Altman admitted that he no longer relies on Google Search. He said he could not remember the last time he typed a query there, a striking statement given that OpenAI still uses Google’s cloud services to help run ChatGPT. Google has welcomed the partnership, describing it as part of its effort to support outside companies through its infrastructure business.
The conversation quickly turned to GPT-5. When the new model was made the default in ChatGPT, users complained about the removal of GPT-4o. Some said the new system lacked the tone and style they had come to expect. OpenAI responded within hours by restoring GPT-4o for paying subscribers. Altman acknowledged mistakes in the launch, though he noted that usage jumped sharply after the update, with API traffic doubling in two days and daily active users reaching record highs.
Behind the growth, OpenAI is struggling with limited computing resources. Access to GPUs remains tight, and Altman described tough decisions over which products to prioritize. To support the scale of ChatGPT and future models, the company is preparing to spend huge sums on new data centers, with investment expected to run into the trillions.
The numbers underline the speed of expansion. ChatGPT now reaches more than 700 million people each week, four times the figure of a year ago. Altman expects the service to soon surpass Instagram and Facebook in traffic, placing it among the three largest sites in the world. Matching Google, though, would be far harder.
Beyond software, OpenAI is also developing a hardware device with designer Jony Ive. Altman described it as a significant step in computing, suggesting it could represent a rare shift in technology platforms. He confirmed that OpenAI is backing a brain-computer interface project as well, positioning it against companies like Neuralink in the race to connect AI with human thought.
The discussion covered other areas too. Altman said he wants ChatGPT to be adaptable to user preferences without leaning toward any fixed political or cultural stance. He spoke about the risks of people forming unhealthy attachments to the tool and about the need to prevent its misuse. He also described the current wave of AI investment as a bubble, comparing it to earlier tech booms, though he stressed that AI remains one of the most important developments of the modern era.
He hinted at possible ambitions in social media, and suggested human-created and curated content will rise in value as AI-generated material spreads more widely online. He even said he would consider buying Chrome if regulators ever required Google to sell it.
Altman also reflected on his position at OpenAI. He admitted he does not see himself as a natural public company chief executive and left open the question of whether he would remain in charge in the years ahead. For now, though, his focus remains on guiding OpenAI through its rapid growth, managing limited computing power, and preparing the company for what he sees as the next wave of technology shifts.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
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