Sam Altman's OpenAI Is Secretly Building A Social Network With Verified Users

OpenAI, the company behind popular AI chatbot -- ChatGPT is reportedly working on a new social media platform which will solve one of the biggest problems on the internet today -- fake accounts and bots.

According to Reuters, the project is still in its early stages and is being handled by a very small internal team. There is no official launch date yet and OpenAI has not publicly confirmed the details.The idea behind this new platform is simple but ambitious. Sam Altman's OpenAI wants to create a social network where every account belongs to a real human being. Unlike existing platforms where bots, spam accounts and fake profiles are common, this proposed network would focus on verified users only. The goal is to encourage real conversations instead of automated or misleading interactions.To achieve this, the AI startup may use biometric verification methods. Reports suggest the company is exploring technologies such as Face ID or iris scanning to confirm user identity. This would be very different from traditional sign-ups that rely only on email IDs or phone numbers. If implemented, this system could make it extremely difficult for bots to exist on the platform.However, this approach also raises serious privacy concerns. Biometric data is highly sensitive, and unlike passwords, it cannot be changed if leaked. Privacy experts have already flagged the risks involved in storing such information. OpenAI is said to be aware of these concerns and is internally discussing how biometric data could be handled safely, if at all.While exact features of the platform are still unknown, the social network is expected to heavily integrate AI tools. Users may be able to create content such as images or videos using AI, similar to what platforms like Instagram and TikTok are already experimenting with. This could put OpenAI in direct competition with some of the biggest players in the social media space.Sam Altman previously spoken about how many online discussions around AI are driven by non-human accounts, making conversations feel artificial.OpenAI’s strong track record with consumer products like ChatGPT and Sora gives it confidence, but entering social media will not be easy. It will face tough competition from platforms like Meta.