OpenAI: No Longer Open? The Lost Giant and the Undercurrents of the AI Arms Race

OpenAI, once a pioneer in AI labeled as "open" and "non-profit," is now undergoing a profound identity crisis. From huge loss expectations and compromises in user experience to quietly modified mission statements, the delicate relationship with competitor Microsoft, and the challenges from Chinese AI models, all point to an unavoidable question: Can OpenAI maintain its original intention and continue to lead the future of AI?

Lost Original Intention: From Open to Closed?

Elon Musk once sharply pointed out that the fate of AI companies always seems to run counter to their names. "OpenAI is closed, Stability is unstable, MidJourney isn’t mid." This is not only a joke but also a profound insight into the current state of the industry.

Initially, OpenAI's vision was to create an open, non-profit AI research institution aimed at benefiting all of humanity. However, with the rapid development of AI technology and its huge market potential, OpenAI has gradually embarked on the path of commercialization.

As @ResisttheMS pointed out, Musk believes that the original intention of naming OpenAI was to contrast with Google and create an open-source, non-profit organization. But the reality is that OpenAI is increasingly like a traditional tech giant, pursuing profit maximization, even at the expense of user experience.

This shift has sparked user questions and dissatisfaction. @LanYunfeng64 criticized OpenAI for fighting on multiple fronts without achieving any victories, and believes that its problem lies not in technology or funding, but in an identity crisis. The removal of GPT-4o features and the leaked expectation of huge losses in 2026 have exacerbated these concerns.

OpenAI's quiet removal of the keywords "safely" and "without financial motive" from its mission statement is undoubtedly a strong testament to its commercial shift. The idealistic halo of the past seems to be gradually fading.

Behind Huge Losses: The Dilemma of the Cash-Burning Model

@forloopcodes pointed out that OpenAI is facing huge financial pressure. Losses of up to $14 billion and monthly inference costs of $1.2 billion force it to seek external financing. It is said that they are seeking $100 billion in investment from Abu Dhabi to make up for the shortage of Microsoft cloud service quotas.

This "cash-burning" model is not uncommon in the Internet industry. Many companies use huge financing to expand rapidly and seize market share. However, the sustainability of this model in the AI field is highly questionable.

The training and inference of AI models require a lot of computing resources, and the cost of these resources is very high. In addition, AI technology research and development requires a large investment of talent, and top AI talent is often very expensive.

If OpenAI cannot achieve profitability as soon as possible, or find a more economical and efficient operating model, its financial situation may further deteriorate. This will not only affect its own development but may also impact the entire AI industry.

Increased Competition: The Rise of Chinese AI Models

The challenges facing OpenAI come not only from within but also from outside. The rise of Chinese AI models is threatening OpenAI's market position.

@Jackkk believes that Chinese AI models have advantages in cost, open source, and usage, and they will erode the profits of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. This view is not groundless. In recent years, China has made significant progress in the AI field, and a number of excellent AI companies and research institutions have emerged.

Chinese AI models often have lower costs, which allows them to enter the market at more competitive prices. In addition, many Chinese AI models adopt an open-source model, which helps accelerate technology dissemination and innovation.

More importantly, China's huge market and rich data resources provide unique advantages for the training and optimization of AI models.

GPT-5 Speculation: Technological Breakthrough or Marketing Gimmick?

Despite the many challenges, OpenAI is constantly launching new AI models. @Sider_JP revealed that OpenAI will release the next-generation model GPT-5 on August 7. This undoubtedly aroused people's expectations.

People's expectations for GPT-5 are mainly focused on the following aspects:

• Improved Contextual Understanding: Will GPT-5 be able to better understand context, thereby maintaining consistency in long conversations?
• Optimized Tool Usage: Will GPT-5 be able to use various tools more intelligently to complete more complex tasks?
• Enhanced Voice Functionality: Will GPT-5 make significant breakthroughs in voice functionality?

@Sider_AI even revealed a suspected GPT-5 system prompt, suggesting that it will be stricter in terms of voice specifications and tool usage.

However, we need to keep a cool head and rationally view the release of GPT-5. In the field of AI, technological breakthroughs often require a long process. We cannot expect GPT-5 to solve all problems overnight.

In addition, OpenAI may also use the release of GPT-5 to enhance its brand image and attract more users and investors.

AI Arms Race: Where is the Next Battlefield?

OpenAI's dilemma, and the rise of Chinese AI models, all foreshadow that competition in the AI field will be more intense. This competition is not only a competition in technology, but also a competition in business models, talent acquisition, and geopolitics.

Where is the next battlefield in the AI arms race? I think the following aspects deserve attention:

• Data: Data is the foundation of AI model training. Whoever has more and higher quality data will have an advantage in the competition.
• Computing Power: Computing power is the driving force behind AI model operation. Whoever has a more powerful computing infrastructure will be able to train and deploy AI models faster.
• Talent: AI talent is scarce and invaluable. Whoever can attract and retain top AI talent will maintain a lead in innovation.
• Ethics: AI ethical issues are receiving increasing attention. Whoever can better solve AI ethical issues will win public trust and support.

This AI arms race may accelerate the development of AI technology, but it may also bring risks. We need to respond cautiously to ensure that AI technology can benefit all mankind, rather than become a destructive force.

OpenAI's Future: Where to Go?

OpenAI's future is full of uncertainty. Whether it can get rid of its identity crisis, find a sustainable business model, and cope with the challenges from Chinese AI models will determine its future destiny.

I think OpenAI needs to re-examine its original intention and return to the track of "openness" and "non-profit". It can try the following strategies:

• Strengthen Open Source Collaboration: Cooperate with other AI research institutions and companies to jointly develop open source AI models and tools.
• Focus on Core Technologies: Concentrate resources on the research and development of core technologies and avoid over-expansion.
• Focus on User Experience: Listen to users' voices and continuously improve products and services.
• Solve Ethical Issues: Actively participate in the discussion and resolution of AI ethical issues to ensure that AI technology can be used responsibly.

Only in this way can OpenAI regain users' trust and continue to lead the future of AI.

Lessons from ClickHouse: Focus and Cultivation

In the discussion of OpenAI, @ClickHouseDB shared its user case. This seems unrelated to the topic of OpenAI, but careful consideration can provide inspiration.

ClickHouse focuses on high-performance OLAP databases and has been deeply involved in this field for many years. It did not try to become a "large and comprehensive" platform, but chose to focus on its core strengths.

This focus and cultivation ultimately achieved ClickHouse's leading position in the field of data analysis.

OpenAI may be inspired by the ClickHouse case. It does not need to be the best in all fields, but should focus on its core strengths and be the best in these fields.

Only in this way can OpenAI stand out in the fierce AI arms race and find its own place.In conclusion, the story of OpenAI is one about original intentions, commercialization, competition, and the future. It is both exciting and worrying. We need to pay close attention to the development of OpenAI and consider its impact on the entire AI industry. Ultimately, we hope that OpenAI can find its own path and continue to contribute to the development of AI.