7 interesting facts about OpenAI that you might have never heard about

OpenAI is no longer just a cutting-edge research lab. It has become a central figure in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Sam Altman-led AI startup is often defined by the groundbreaking products it brings to the world, such as ChatGPT, DALL·E, Codex, and more.

However, beneath the surface of this AI powerhouse lies a fascinating mix of humble beginnings, internal turmoil, power struggles, and ethical dilemmas that most people never hear about.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about OpenAI that reveal a much deeper story.

1. Founding of OpenAI (2015)

OpenAI was founded in December 2015 by a group of visionaries, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and others, with a mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) would benefit all of humanity.

At the time, it was launched as a non-profit, which is quite rare in Silicon Valley.

2. From a non-profit to a profit organisation

In 2019, OpenAI shocked the tech world by announcing its transition to a “capped-profit” model, a unique structure where profits are limited but investors can still make a return.

This shift was meant to help the company attract the billions it would need to stay competitive in AI development, without becoming a traditional for-profit.

However, the move raised eyebrows, with critics arguing it betrayed the original “open” mission of OpenAI.

3. Partnership with Microsoft

OpenAI's big break came when Microsoft invested $1 billion into the company. This partnership has grown massively with time, as today, OpenAI’s models are integrated into Microsoft’s Office tools, Bing, GitHub Copilot, and Azure cloud services.

The deal not only gave OpenAI financial stability but also established Microsoft as a key player in the AI arms race against Google, Meta, and Amazon.

4. First AI gamer by OpenAI

One of OpenAI’s lesser-known but mind-blowing accomplishments is OpenAI Five, an AI system that could play the complex video game DOTA 2.

In 2019, it went head-to-head with and beat world champion human players, marking a historic achievement in reinforcement learning.

5. Sam Altman was once fired — and then rehired

In one of the most dramatic moments in OpenAI's history, CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired in November 2023 for being “inconsistent in communication,” according to the board.

Just 12 days later, following public outcry and employee backlash, he was reinstated.

6. Controversies over ethics and labour

OpenAI has faced serious ethical questions. In 2023, it was reported that Kenyan workers were paid less than $2 per hour to moderate harmful content for ChatGPT.

The revelation highlighted the human toll of building “safe” AI and triggered backlash over exploitation in global labor pipelines.

Moreover, OpenAI was accused of copyright infringement for allegedly using open-source code from GitHub without proper licensing.

7. How many people work at OpenAI?

As of September 2024, OpenAI employs over 3,500 people, up from just 770 in November 2023. This rapid scaling reflects the company’s explosive growth and the intense demand for AI innovation.