OpenAI has significantly expanded the capabilities and market penetration of its ChatGPT platform throughout 2025, introducing new enterprise-focused features, scaling its user base to over 800 million weekly active users, and pursuing aggressive global infrastructure and funding initiatives. The company launched advanced AI models, including GPT-5, and integrated new functionalities aimed at enhancing productivity and automation across diverse sectors, according to recent company announcements and industry reports.
Key developments include the October 2025 launch of a "company knowledge" update for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Education users, enabling search across workplace data from tools such as Slack and Google Drive via GPT-5. OpenAI also unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, an AI browser, starting on Mac, aiming to position ChatGPT as a primary web browsing tool. In e-commerce, OpenAI partnered with Walmart in October 2025 to enable direct product browsing and purchases, building on earlier September 2025 integrations for instant checkout with Etsy and Shopify. Further expanding its reach, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies in January 2025, tailored for managing security, privacy, and compliance with non-public sensitive data.
User growth for ChatGPT continued its rapid trajectory, surpassing 700 million weekly active users in August 2025 and reaching 800 million by October 2025, as reported by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. This expansion is supported by substantial infrastructure investments, including a reported $50 billion data center project involving SoftBank and Oracle, and the "OpenAI for Countries" program, which aims to collaborate with governments to develop local AI infrastructure and customize products globally. The company also expanded its affordable ChatGPT Go plan to 16 new Asian countries in October 2025, alongside an earlier August 2025 rollout in India.
OpenAI introduced its next-generation GPT-5 model in August 2025, designed for complex tasks such as coding applications and managing calendars. This was complemented by the release of specialized models like GPT-5-Codex for coding and o3-pro for enhanced reasoning. Concurrently, the company addressed challenges including internal executive departures in 2024 and ongoing legal actions related to copyright infringement and antitrust claims from entities like Alden Global Capital and xAI. OpenAI also implemented new safeguards, including parental controls and stronger detection of mental health risks, following a lawsuit regarding alleged chatbot interactions related to a teen's suicide.
