After launching everything and the kitchen sink, OpenAI wants to return to the essentials.

A web browser (Atlas), a video generator (Sora), advertising, one or several AI devices with Jony Ive… One cannot say that OpenAI has been idle in recent months. But maximizing market presence can be a problem if management doesn't follow up.

OpenAI lifts its foot

In an internal meeting reported by the Wall Street Journal, Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI's applications, acknowledged the need to « tighten the focus ». Selections are coming for projects whose development could be slowed down… or even completely abandoned. Among others, the « adult mode » of ChatGPT, which was supposed to be launched in the first quarter and has finally been postponed to the Greek calendar.

Internally, OpenAI's « do everything at once » approach has created organizational issues: vague priorities, urgent reallocation of computing resources, complex structures. Some products, like Sora, have not met the expected success despite a strong initial launch.

OpenAI is preparing a strategic shift to refocus efforts and concentrate resources on two priorities: software development, and productivity. The current roadmap — multiplying projects in all directions — would have diluted efforts and especially weakened the startup's position against competition.

And when it comes to competition, it's about Anthropic. The company has rarely deviated from its course (no image or video generation without interest), and has become a dominant player among developers and companies thanks to its tools like Claude Code and its autonomous agents. OpenAI has recently focused its efforts on code, with Codex and GPT-5.4, and is working on its ties with companies (partnerships, on-the-ground deployment).

In the background, an important deadline: OpenAI and Anthropic are indeed planning to go public. Each startup has its own problems. OpenAI is too scattered, Anthropic needs to show its hand to the U.S. government: both have a lot of work ahead to attract investors.

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Source : WSJ