OpenAI's $150B Expansion Sparks Concerns Over Influence and Energy Consumption
OpenAI, now valued at over $150 billion, has sparked concern and criticism with its recent ventures. The company, under CEO Sam Altman, has prioritized consumer products and partnerships, but environmental groups and critics argue these moves stray from its founding mission and pose other significant issues.
OpenAI launched Sora 2, an app featuring AI-generated video content, drawing parallels to TikTok. Critics have slammed the app, dubbing it an 'infinite slop machine' that could foster 'dopamine-addicted zombies' by encouraging endless consumption of AI-generated content. Meanwhile, the energy demands of data centers, including those powering such apps, have driven up power prices by 267%.
The company's 'instant checkout' feature, integrated with Shopify and Etsy, allows U.S. ChatGPT users to shop directly within conversations. This move has raised eyebrows, with critics warning of OpenAI's growing influence over consumer choices and market access, positioning it as a retail gatekeeper. Environmental groups also express worry about the energy demands and carbon footprint of large-scale AI-generated video models.
Despite these concerns, OpenAI continues to form strategic partnerships. SAP and OpenAI joined forces on September 24, 2025, focusing on secure and sovereign AI solutions for the public sector in Germany. NVIDIA and OpenAI also partnered to deploy massive computing power for AI development, but these collaborations do not directly involve e-commerce or short videos.
OpenAI's expansion into consumer products and partnerships has sparked debate about its influence, energy consumption, and commitment to its founding mission. As the company continues to grow and form alliances, these issues will remain at the forefront of discussions about its future direction.
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