OpenAI’s open-source pivot shows how U.S. tech is trying to catch up to China’s AI surge

(Credit: David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images)

OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, released two bombshell AI developments last week. Last Thursday, it released GPT-5, the long-awaited update to its powerful GPT model. 

But OpenAI’s earlier decision to release open-source versions of its powerful model—the first time it’s done so since 2020, may be more consequential. OpenAI’s move follows a flood of Chinese AI models spurred by the surprise release from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.