The Decline of OpenAI: Is This the Beginning of the End?
Updated: Jan 8
[Edited] OpenAI, the renowned artificial intelligence research laboratory, has made a surprising move by filing for a trademark on its 'GPT' technology.
This decision comes as OpenAI faces increasing competition from Google's partnership with Microsoft in the AI field. While OpenAI has been a leader in the industry, it seems they are taking a different approach to protect their products and maintain their position by securing a trademark for 'GPT'.
The trademark application was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in December 2022. OpenAI has recently requested the USPTO to expedite the process due to the emergence of numerous apps using the GPT name. However, the application is still pending and may take an additional 4-5 months for approval, according to Jefferson Scher, a partner at Carr & Ferrell.
To address concerns about potential misuse of their technology, OpenAI has released brand guidelines on their website. These guidelines outline the appropriate usage of words when building products powered by OpenAI's technology. For instance, products like MeowlyticsGPT should be renamed to Meowlytics powered by GPT-4. Additionally, plugins should specify that they are made for ChatGPT as a plugin, rather than claiming compatibility with OpenAI.
OpenAI's decision to file for a trademark reflects their desire to prevent others from impersonating their technology. It is worth noting that OpenAI did not introduce GPT to the world, nor did they coin the term. The first instance of GPT was in 2018 with GPT-1, and the term 'generative pre-trained' predates OpenAI's usage. However, OpenAI's success with ChatGPT may have prompted them to protect their brand and prevent cloning.
While OpenAI's move may seem possessive, it is important to distinguish between a trademark and a copyright. OpenAI's intention is not to restrict the use of GPT technology but to ensure that it is properly attributed to them. The trademark application serves as a means to prevent others from falsely claiming association with OpenAI's technology.
Interestingly, OpenAI's China-based subsidiary has also attempted to trademark 'GPT-4' in China. However, given China's ban on the technology and its development of its own chatbot, it is unlikely that OpenAI's trademark application will be accepted in the country.
Critics have pointed out that OpenAI's trademark application may be too late, as the term GPT and the technology itself have been in use for several years. Furthermore, Google has released open-source repositories with Transformers, and many of their products leverage technology from Microsoft/OpenAI patents. This raises questions about the validity and enforceability of OpenAI's trademark application.
OpenAI's decision to file for a trademark has sparked debates about the control of AI and the potential impact on developers who have built products using OpenAI's APIs. If OpenAI's trademark application is successful, it could require these products to change their names, potentially leading to a decrease in their appeal to customers.
OpenAI has filed for a trademark on its 'GPT' technology.
The trademark application is pending approval from the USPTO.
OpenAI has released brand guidelines to ensure proper attribution of their technology.
Critics argue that the trademark application may be too late and raises questions about control in the AI industry.
Source: analyticsindiamag