OpenAI Wants to Kill the Chatbot It Invented and Turn It Into a Superapp
OpenAI is trying to reduce its reliance on free ChatGPT usage by turning ChatGPT into a broader “superapp” codenamed Aria. The redesigned product would combine coding, task automation, image generation, web/app access, enterprise workflows, and partner apps into one interface. The goal is to make ChatGPT a work-and-life assistant rather than a simple chat product. The strategy draws on superapp models like WeChat and reflects pressure from monetization and IPO plans. OpenAI’s revenue is above $20 billion annualized, with business customers contributing a large share, while most ChatGPT users still pay nothing. Competitive pressure from Anthropic, especially in enterprise and coding tools, is pushing OpenAI to consolidate products like Codex, ChatGPT Agent, and workspace agents into a single platform. OpenAI has also filed confidentially for an IPO, targeting late 2026.
