In brief
OpenAI plans to transform ChatGPT from a Q&A chatbot into a platform integrating Codex programming tools, image generation, and third-party services like Canva and Booking.com.
The overhaul will appear initially as updates to the ChatGPT website and mobile apps, with new prompts directing users toward coding tools and partner applications.
Business customers currently account for about 40% of OpenAI's revenue, with the company aiming to grow that share to 50% by the end of the year.
OpenAI has been preparing a confidential US IPO filing, while rival Anthropic has already submitted documents to the SEC for a Nasdaq listing.
Google, Microsoft, and Apple are all developing personal AI agents, with Apple expected to announce a new AI-powered Siri on Monday.
- 5 JunOpenAI announces Dreaming memory system for ChatGPT personalisation
- 7 JunFT reports ChatGPT superapp overhaul, rollout expected in coming weeks
- 8 JunApple expected to announce new AI-powered Siri
The superapp pivot
OpenAI is planning its most radical ChatGPT transformation yet, turning the world's most-used AI chatbot into a 'superapp' that can write code, generate images, and automate tasks, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing more than a dozen current and former employees. The overhaul, expected to roll out in the coming weeks, reflects a growing conviction inside the company that the future of AI lies not in chatbots that answer questions but in agents that perform tasks for users.
“Chat is dead.”
Short-term changes include new prompts and features directing users toward Codex, OpenAI's programming agent, and partner applications such as Canva and Booking.com. Over the longer term, the app is designed to automatically understand user intentions and select the right tools, eliminating the need for manual navigation.
Enterprise revenue push
The restructuring is part of a broader reorganisation at OpenAI as it redirects resources toward lucrative enterprise clients. Codex users are predominantly paying customers, and roughly 2 million businesses account for about 40% of OpenAI's revenue, a share the company expects to reach 50% by year-end, according to the FT. ChatGPT serves over 900 million weekly active users and has surpassed 50 million consumer subscribers, OpenAI announced earlier this year.
“We are building a personal agent that can help you with everything in your life, personal or work.”
Alexander Embiricos, a product manager for Codex, described a future where a single entity handles whatever the user needs, accessible across smartphone, PC, or web. The company views ChatGPT as a gateway to introduce higher-value products to its massive user base.
IPO timing and competitive pressure
The superapp push comes at a critical moment. Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees, recently filed documents with the SEC for a Nasdaq listing and has gained momentum with its successful Claude Code product. OpenAI itself has been preparing a confidential IPO filing in the United States, Reuters reported in May, though CEO Sam Altman has said the company is not focused on a specific timeline and will go public when the moment is right.
The broader AI agent race
OpenAI's move is part of a wider industry shift toward AI agents. Google recently announced similar plans under the name Gemini Spark, Microsoft demonstrated its personal agent Scout last week, and Apple is expected to unveil a new AI-powered version of Siri on Monday, partly based on Google Gemini. The term 'superapp', historically associated with Chinese platforms like WeChat that combine chat, shopping, and payments, is now being applied to this new generation of AI assistants.
Fidji Simo, who oversees the ChatGPT app at OpenAI, signalled the shift publicly in March, writing on X that companies go through phases of experimentation and realignment. On Thursday, OpenAI announced Dreaming, a memory system that stores information within ChatGPT to increase personalisation of results.