OpenAI social platform could join Threads, Bluesky in reshaping feeds

• OpenAI is reportedly developing a social media platform powered by AI-generated content. This platform could potentially compete with Meta’s Facebook and Elon Musk’s X while intensifying the rivalry between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Musk. The platform is still in the early stages, and details have yet to be clarified.
• New platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Lemon8 highlight the challenges of standing out in a crowded digital landscape.
• OpenAI’s move raises questions about how it will differentiate itself in the evolving social media space.

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A new OpenAI social media platform could soon join the digital landscape. The AI company is reportedly developing a network powered by artificial intelligence, entering a space already reshaped by emerging apps like Threads, Bluesky, and Lemon8.

The Verge reports that OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is exploring plans to launch a platform centered around AI-generated content, including images and infographics. Though details remain limited, this move could place the OpenAI social media platform in direct competition with tech giants like Meta’s Facebook and Elon Musk’s X. The development also adds a new layer to a long-standing rivalry between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Musk.

In 2018, Musk stepped down from OpenAI’s board, citing a potential conflict of interest with Tesla’s own AI efforts. He later expressed concern about OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model, which officially happened in 2019.

By 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its original nonprofit mission. Earlier this month, OpenAI responded by filing a countersuit, asking a federal court to stop what it described as repeated harassment.

A crowded and growing field

Beyond the legal battles, OpenAI’s efforts to enter the social space raise a broader question: How hard is it to launch a successful social media platform today?

In recent years, several new apps have emerged—each offering something unique. Among the most notable are Threads, Bluesky, and Lemon8.

Threads, launched by Meta in July 2023, is a text-focused extension of Instagram. It allows users to post updates and participate in public conversations in a format similar to X.

Last November, Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted that Threads had reached 275 million monthly active users. He acknowledged there was still more to fix but noted the platform had momentum.

Still, Threads’ reach falls short of the major platforms. As of April 2025, Facebook had over 3 billion monthly users. YouTube had 2.5 billion, while TikTok had nearly 1.6 billion. Despite that, Threads continues to outperform other new social platforms in terms of growth.

The rise of Bluesky and Lemon8

X, formerly Twitter, has seen a slowdown. According to Statista, the platform has about 585 million users. Mashable reports that U.S. daily active usage dropped by 8.4% in late 2024. New privacy rules and Musk’s political affiliations may have influenced engagement.

That created an opening for Bluesky. Launched publicly in early 2024, the decentralized microblogging platform gives users control over their data and algorithms. It currently runs without ads, and monetization features are still in development. As of January, Bluesky reached 30 million users.

Lemon8, ByteDance’s sister app to TikTok, focuses on lifestyle content in a format similar to Pinterest or Instagram. In January, Fortune reported that the app had surpassed 1 million daily active U.S. users. The rise came as creators and users looked for alternatives amid growing concerns over a potential TikTok ban.

What’s next for OpenAI?

As for the OpenAI social media platform, development is still in early stages. According to The Verge, it remains unclear whether the platform will launch as a standalone app or integrate directly into ChatGPT.