Hajra Naz
New York — OpenAI was a small AI research lab before ChatGPT launched in November 2022.
Three years later, OpenAI is now a leader in the AI boom. It makes CEOs and tech watchers pay attention. ChatGPT can write apps, plan trips, and browse the web for you. OpenAI is pushing into shopping, education, government, and more.
To support all this, OpenAI is putting money into physical infrastructure. It plans to add 6 gigawatts of data center power powered by AMD chips. It already has deals with Nvidia and Oracle.
OpenAI’s growth is circular. It needs apps to bring money. And it needs computing power to build those apps.
But challenges are big. Many tech companies are racing to build better AI models. Some investors worry we are in a bubble. OpenAI competes with giants like Meta, which already have large systems and revenue. OpenAI isn’t yet profitable, so it must find ways to sustain itself.
OpenAI didn’t respond to requests for comment on this story.
Read More: OpenAI Integrates ChatGPT into Everyday Digital Tools
More Than a Chatbot
Google, Amazon, and Meta shaped the web through search, e-commerce, and social media. OpenAI aims to do similarly for the AI era. ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly users, as claimed by its CEO.
OpenAI wants users to get things done without leaving ChatGPT. Soon, ChatGPT could build playlists in Spotify or browse homes on Zillow from inside the chat.
In September, OpenAI launched Instant Checkout, letting users buy items directly through ChatGPT.
They also made a “study mode” to help students. And Sora 2 — a feed of AI-generated short videos—is challenging platforms like TikTok.
OpenAI is also working on hardware. It’s partnered with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Details are slim. But the goal is an AI device that’s as central as your smartphone.
OpenAI’s path reminds some of Google’s rise. Google started with web search, then expanded into many tech areas. OpenAI seems to want that kind of footprint.
Thomas Thiele, an AI expert, sees parallels:
“OpenAI is aiming for a bigger footprint,” he said.
Read More: OpenAI Boosts Developer Engagement by Upgrading API Models
Billions Into Data Centers
To support all these AI efforts, OpenAI needs infrastructure. That means massive data centers.
They plan to build AI data centers across the U.S. and globally. More computing power is essential. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s President, said,
“We need as much computing power as we can possibly get.”
In January, OpenAI partnered with Oracle and SoftBank. They plan to invest up to $500 billion in a company called Stargate to build AI infrastructure. Their first site is under construction in Abilene, Texas. More are planned in the Midwest, New Mexico, and Texas.
OpenAI also agreed to pay Oracle $300 billion over five years for more data center capacity. And it’s buying enough Nvidia chips for 10 gigawatts of power. The AMD deal is a hedge.
OpenAI is making infrastructure deals worldwide. The UK and UAE are among the locations they’re expanding into.
But expansion costs a lot. OpenAI must keep generating revenue to maintain this growth.
The company is valued at $500 billion. But it posted a $7.8 billion loss in the first half of 2025, mostly from data centre spending. Whether turning ChatGPT into a full platform leads to profit is uncertain.
Some call this a “chicken-or-egg” dilemma. You need revenue to grow, but you need growth to create revenue. The more OpenAI tailors ChatGPT for shopping, education, and tools, the more people may use it for those tasks.
This strategy worked for the big tech names: build tools people rely on, then find monetization. OpenAI is clearly betting it will pay off.
“AI revenue is growing faster than almost any product in history,” Brockman told Bloomberg.The reason compute power is so important is because the revenue will follow.”
Read More: OpenAI Strikes $26 Billion AMD Deal, Challenging Nvidia’s AI Chip Dominance
FAQs
What makes ChatGPT more than a chatbot?
It’s turning into a tool that helps you do many tasks — browsing, shopping, planning — all in one place.
How many people use ChatGPT?
According to OpenAI, about 800 million users per week.
Why invest in data centers?
Because AI needs huge computing power. To grow, OpenAI must build physical backbones.
Is OpenAI already profitable?
No. It is investing heavily and expects that revenue growth will follow.
Can ChatGPT replace apps like Spotify or Zillow?
It might integrate with them. For example, you could browse homes or build playlists inside ChatGPT soon.
