OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, is reportedly working on a social media platform, according to sources cited by The Verge. The project, still in its prototype phase, could position OpenAI as a competitor to platforms like X.

The initiative centers on leveraging ChatGPT’s image-generation capabilities to power a social feed where users can interact with AI-created content, per The Verge. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been quietly gathering feedback from external partners to shape the project, though it’s uncertain whether it will emerge as a standalone app or be woven into ChatGPT’s existing interface. OpenAI has not issued an official statement on the reports.

Hints of OpenAI’s interest in social media surfaced earlier this year when Altman responded to news of Meta exploring a standalone AI app. In a February post on X, he wrote, “ok fine maybe we’ll do a social app,” suggesting the company was considering such a move. Recent posts on X, referencing The Verge, have amplified speculation about the prototype, noting its focus on AI-driven image sharing.

A social media platform could offer OpenAI a new way to engage users while collecting real-time data to refine its AI models, a tactic already used by competitors like Meta and X, according to TheStreet. This data is crucial for advancing AI development, but the project’s early stage means its future is far from certain.

The effort comes amid growing tensions between OpenAI and Elon Musk, a former co-founder who now runs xAI and owns X. CNBC reports that Musk and Altman are embroiled in a legal dispute over OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit entity, which may soon secure $40 billion in funding led by SoftBank. A social network could intensify this rivalry, pitting OpenAI against X in both AI innovation and user engagement.

OpenAI’s exploration of social media follows its rapid growth, with ChatGPT attracting millions of users worldwide. Whether this platform will launch and challenge the social media landscape remains to be seen, but it underscores OpenAI’s ambition to expand beyond chatbots.