In the piece, writer OpenAI is cast as shifting from pioneering large-scale ambitions (curing diseases, super-human reasoning, rewriting entire industries) to chasing growth in less substantial areas — like browsers, adult-oriented content (“erotica”), and novelty apps. The author argues that this pivot suggests desperation rather than strategic evolution.
A key argument is that OpenAI’s core product — large-language models trained for next-token prediction — inherently lacks the claims of transformation once made: the author asserts these tools are “too inaccurate” to reliably boost productivity, automate knowledge work, or act like thinking machines. At the same time, the cost of training and deploying these models continues to rise. The article states that OpenAI is further from profitability as its cost base balloons and revenues stall.
The piece also examines how OpenAI is targeting markets that seem out of step with its earlier mission-driven narrative. For example, the launch of the “Atlas” browser and adult content features are presented as attempts to monetise large user bases quickly, rather than focusing on enterprise or research-driven value creation. The author treats these moves as symptomatic of a “growth at any cost” mindset rather than disciplined innovation.
In conclusion, the writer warns that if OpenAI continues down this path — relying on hype, massive valuations and speculative new products — it faces the risk of a major correction. According to the article, scaling big in its field does not guarantee economies of scale, and the discrepancy between expectations and business fundamentals may lead to serious trouble. Whether the company can reset, refocus on value creation, or redefine its narrative remains open.
