OpenAI, the tech startup behind the AI sensation ChatGPT, is now reportedly generating a staggering $80 million per month. This revenue surge puts the company on track to exceed $1 billion in annual revenue, significantly ahead of the 2024 milestone previously forecasted by Reuters.
The Information initially reported these financial details, revealing that OpenAI’s income has surpassed the figures previously communicated to shareholders. The company, which was privately valued at around $27 billion after a $300 million share sale in April, seems to be defying all expectations.
Before the monetization of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s annual revenue was a mere $28 million. However, the launch of the generative AI chatbot has ushered in a new era for the company. The language model-powered chatbot quickly became the fastest-growing app in history, surpassing early internet sensations like Instagram, Netflix, and TikTok.
ChatGPT’s remarkable ability to emulate human conversation while accomplishing tasks such as writing poetry, recommending restaurants, and distilling complex topics has made it a digital phenomenon. Despite some users describing the bot as “unhinged” and argumentative, its success has ignited a wave of investment in artificial intelligence from Big Tech and other sectors.
This success could help OpenAI recoup some of its losses, which doubled to around $540 million in 2022 during the development of its flagship chatbot.
In an effort to escalate its revenue streams this year, OpenAI launched a business version of ChatGPT. The new enterprise model boasts enhanced security and privacy features. Early users include major corporations like Canva, Estée Lauder, and PwC.
Seven months ago, OpenAI also introduced a $20 per month premium subscription service for ChatGPT’s most dedicated users. While the chatbot remains free for casual users, high demand levels and feature access restrictions may impact nonsubscribers.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, previously stated that monetizing ChatGPT was inevitable due to the “eye-watering” computing costs associated with running the program. Besides monetizing ChatGPT, OpenAI also generates income by selling API access to its AI models.
However, full financial success may still be on the horizon for OpenAI. As per the agreement with Microsoft earlier this year, the tech giant is entitled to 75% of OpenAI’s profits until its $13 billion investments in the startup are repaid. Additionally, Altman anticipates that OpenAI’s aspirations around artificial general intelligence (AGI) could cost another $100 billion.
