OpenAI Rolls Out Free Science Platform Prism as Experts Warn of Privacy Concerns
OpenAI has launched Prism, a web-based workspace that integrates ChatGPT 5.2 into scientific writing, allowing researchers to draft, revise, and collaborate seamlessly. Prism builds on Crixet, a LaTeX platform acquired by OpenAI, which facilitates the structured writing and formatting of scientific papers. CEO Sam Altman reports that scientists using GPT-5.2 are achieving significant research progress, though he acknowledges that fully autonomous AI-driven research remains distant. Prism mainly aids in composing and editing manuscripts, literature search, and citation management, rather than replacing core research and insight generation. Concerns around intellectual property arise, as using ChatGPT to write papers may expose proprietary research to OpenAI, raising privacy and ownership questions. Persistent issues such as AI hallucinations remain, with experts recommending that researchers treat AI as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human oversight. Prism’s launch aligns with OpenAI’s shift toward outcome-based pricing and a broader push into research-intensive industries, suggesting a future in which value generated via AI-augmented discovery will be economically shared. Currently, Prism is free for individual users.
