OpenAI, known for its famous ChatGPT chatbot and backed by technology giant Microsoft, expands its strategy by opening up to the acquisition of other companies. The company led by Sam Altman has recently acquired Rockset, leader in the sector of database for real-time analysis. This acquisition, the financial details of which were not disclosed, represents an important strategic leap to enhance OpenAI's artificial intelligence infrastructure and capabilities.
This operation could represent the first step towards a possible transformation of OpenAI from a non-profit entity to a for-profit organization.
What is Rockset
Rockset specializes in data processing in real time and vector search, offering robust data indexing and querying capabilities. In August last year, Rockset announced that it had raised a total of $105 million in capital, with investors including Greylock, Sequoia and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
This acquisition is intended to allow OpenAI to provide faster and more precise answers from its artificial intelligence models. By integrating Rockset's advanced technology into its products, OpenAI aims to more effectively leverage insights from real-time data, meeting the diverse needs of users and business applications.
“Rockset's infrastructure enables companies to transform their data into actionable insights. We are excited to bring these benefits to our customers by integrating Rockset's foundation into OpenAI products,” he said Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI.
“We are excited to join OpenAI to enable users, businesses and developers to take full advantage of their data by bringing powerful retrieval to artificial intelligence,” he said Venkat Venkataramani, CEO of Rockset.
The acquisition takes place in a competitive environment where AI capabilities play an increasingly crucial role across industries.
Evolution of OpenAI: from non-profit to for-profit?
In parallel with the expansion efforts, OpenAI is evaluating a possible structural transformation from non-profit entity to for-profit organization. CEO Sam Altman would have suggested explore new governance structures that can accommodate broad investment opportunities, similar to models seen in companies like Anthropic (backed by Amazon) and Elon Musk's xAI initiative.
As reported by the site The Information, this potential transformation, discussed in recent shareholder meetings, aligns with the nomination of Paul M. Nakasone, former head of the US National Security Agency (NSA), on the board of directors. According to the site, the board of directors would not have direct control of the new structure, delegating management to a new board that will operate in parallel to the existing one.
Recent reports indicate that i annual revenues OpenAI more than doubled to $3,4 billion, sparking discussions about internal restructuring while remaining focused on advancing AI for the benefit of society.
“We remain focused on creating artificial intelligence that benefits everyone,” the company said at Reuters.
OpenAI: the ethical considerations to evaluate
Amid these growth prospects, OpenAI is under scrutiny for maintain its original mission during business transitions.
Already Elon Musk, who was a key figure in the early years of the company, has expressed concerns regarding the potential development of proprietary AI under Microsoft's influence, raising questions about whether OpenAI's goals align with broader ethical imperatives in AI research and development.
