OpenAI gets ready to launch its Open Source ChatGPT model and Microsoft might not be happy about it

India Today

10-07-2025

OpenAI is planning to release a new open-source artificial intelligence model, according to a report by The Information, which cites a source familiar with the matter. The move would mark a significant shift in strategy for the Microsoft-backed company, which has faced increasing scrutiny since launching ChatGPT in late 2022.The forthcoming release would represent a return to OpenAI's earlier open-source roots. While the first two generations of its GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models were made publicly available, the company has since adopted a more guarded approach. Both GPT 3.5 and GPT 4, the models powering ChatGPT, remain closed source, with limited public information available about their architecture, training data, or the computational resources used to build them.advertisementWhen GPT 4 was unveiled in March 2023, OpenAI said it was withholding technical details due to concerns over competitive advantage and safety. 'Given both the competitive landscape and the safety implications of large-scale models like GPT 4, this report contains no further details about the architecture or training methods,' the company noted in its accompanying technical report.
Now, however, the tide appears to be turning. The decision to develop and release a new open-source model comes at a time when OpenAI is facing mounting competition from a growing ecosystem of open-source AI projects, many of which are rapidly catching up in terms of performance and capability.Although there is currently no public timeline for the model's release, the development signals a possible recalibration of OpenAI's position in an increasingly crowded and fast-moving space. Analysts say the move could help OpenAI stay relevant with researchers and developers who favour open platforms and transparent development.The pressure is not just coming from traditional rivals like Google. Earlier this year, a leaked internal memo from a Google employee warned that both Google and OpenAI were at risk of falling behind open-source developers. 'The uncomfortable truth is, we aren't positioned to win this arms race, and neither is OpenAI,' the memo stated. It further suggested that independent engineers in the open-source community were outpacing the tech giants in innovation and agility.The surge in open-source AI activity has been partially fuelled by Meta, which has released several powerful models under open licences. These models have been widely adopted in academia and by independent developers, contributing to a broader culture of collaboration and transparency in the AI field.While OpenAI's upcoming release is expected to be less powerful than GPT-4, it could still play a significant role in shaping the future of accessible AI technology. More details are expected to emerge in the coming months as the company finalises its plans.- Ends