When ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) began development in 2018 by research organization OpenAI, its goal was to use A.I. for good.
Prior to ChatGPT, language models were typically trained on limited amounts of text data, inhibiting their ability to understand and generate human-like language. ChatGPT was trained on an extremely large dataset, allowing it to generate with relative fluency text that was more personal and more human.
Microsoft in 2019 spotted an opportunity and invested $1 billion in OpenAI, becoming their exclusive cloud provider. Microsoft’s cloud has allowed the company to scale to what it is today. In the past two years, Microsoft invested even more in OpenAI. The most recent cash infusion has been rumored to be as high as $10 billion.
Some investors today believe OpenAI is valued at $29.billion and ChatGPT has reached more than 100 million active users in January 2023, making it the fastest-growing consumer app in history (Reuters).
In essence, Microsoft is betting that the ChatGPT technology could boost its standing in Search, a market largely owned by Google. That came to life in February 2023 when Microsoft unveiled a revamped version of its search engine Bing, as well as its web browser, Edge. The integration’s goal is to give the everyday internet consumer a reason to switch from Google’s search and browser.
Microsoft plans to go further, potentially integrating ChatGPT’s A.I. into its Office suite, like Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Microsoft believes in the practical use of ChatGPT so much that it is already using A.I. to help its salespeople draft emails with “personalized details for their recipients, such as pricing, promotions, and deadlines,” according to Business Insider.
To date, Microsoft is the unequivocal leader in bringing A.I. to the masses. But that could change.
You can learn more about how ChatGPT got started and more when you download our guide “What’s Up with ChatGPT?” here:
We’ll be releasing even more over the coming days about ChatGPT our series of articles on this phenomenon. For even more trends and digital media updates from the pros at Brkthru, subscribe to our monthly newsletter The Brk_down.