OpenAI

Companies Beginner Also called: Open AI
Definition

The American AI company behind ChatGPT, the GPT family of models, Codex, and Dots. It was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, later added a for-profit arm, and is now a public benefit corporation based in San Francisco. Its release of ChatGPT in November 2022 set off the current wave of everyday AI use.

In plain English

OpenAI is the company that made AI a household word. When most people say “AI,” they mean ChatGPT, and ChatGPT is OpenAI’s app. The model inside it is a GPT, a kind of large language model.2

In the real world

  • ChatGPT, one of the most visited websites in the world as of 2026.1
  • Codex, its coding agent.1
  • Dots, its always-on agents.
  • “Powered by GPT” inside other companies’ products.

Key facts

Founded
2015, as a nonprofit. Elon Musk and Sam Altman were co-chairs; Musk left in 2018.
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Known for
ChatGPT, GPT models, GPT Image, Codex, Dots
Legal form
Public benefit corporation since 2025, meaning a public mission sits alongside profit in its legal paperwork

Common questions

Is ChatGPT the same as OpenAI?

No. OpenAI is the company. ChatGPT is its app. The models inside the app are called GPT, followed by a version number.

Who runs OpenAI?

Sam Altman is its best-known leader and was a founding co-chair. The leadership has changed over the years; check the company's own site for the current team.

How does OpenAI relate to Anthropic?

Anthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI staff. The two are now the leading competitors in AI models.

References

  1. OpenAIWikipediaView source
  2. ChatGPTWikipediaView source
Updated 2026-11-10 Reviewed by Elena Boyd Multimodal Pilled