OpenAI Explores Building a Social Network to Rival X and Meta

OpenAI is working on an early-stage social networking project, potentially signaling a new phase in the company’s expansion—and intensifying its rivalry with tech giants like Elon Musk’s X and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta.

According to multiple sources, the AI company is internally testing a prototype featuring a social feed centered around ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities. While details are still in flux, CEO Sam Altman has reportedly been gathering outside feedback on the project, which could either launch as a standalone app or be integrated directly into ChatGPT—now the world’s most downloaded app.

OpenAI has not officially commented on the project.

A New Front in the Altman-Musk-Zuckerberg Rivalry

If launched, a social network from OpenAI would thrust the company into direct competition with both Musk’s X and Zuckerberg’s Meta. The move would also rekindle tensions between Altman and Musk, who clashed earlier this year when Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Altman’s sarcastic reply? “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”

The development also mirrors Meta’s plans to release a standalone app with a social feed for its own AI assistant—news that prompted Altman to quip on X: “ok fine maybe we’ll do a social app.”

Strategic Value: Real-Time Data for AI Training

Owning a social platform could give OpenAI access to valuable real-time user data—something Musk and Zuckerberg already leverage to train their AI models. X’s Grok, for instance, surfaces trending content from its own platform, while Meta’s Llama models are trained on user activity across Facebook and Instagram.

One idea behind OpenAI’s prototype is to use AI to help users create more compelling content. “The Grok integration with X has made everyone jealous,” said a source at another AI lab, noting how some users manipulate Grok to generate viral, often controversial posts.

A Bold but Uncertain Step

While it’s unclear whether OpenAI’s social media experiment will ever become public, its existence signals how the company is thinking about long-term growth and influence. As competition in the AI space heats up, OpenAI is exploring more direct ways to shape how people create and consume content.

What This Means

OpenAI’s rumored social network isn’t just a shot across the bow at Musk and Meta—it’s a strategic move to secure something its rivals already possess: a constant stream of real-time user data. By hosting its own social platform, OpenAI could gain direct access to the kind of rich, organic content that supercharges model training and fine-tuning.

But this isn’t only about data. It’s also about influence—reshaping how AI-generated content goes viral. With ChatGPT’s image tools at the center, OpenAI has a chance to design a platform where AI doesn’t just assist with posts, but defines the next wave of social creativity.

Whether the app launches or not, it’s a clear sign that OpenAI wants a bigger seat at the digital table—and may soon become more than just a tech provider.

If OpenAI builds the stage, it won’t just train AI—it’ll shape the culture that trains us back.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.