OpenAI to release its first ‘open’ language model since GPT-2 in 2019
OpenAI Announces Launch of Open-Weight Language Model for Developers
OpenAI is preparing to release an “open” version of its advanced language model later this year, providing developers with the ability to run the model on their own hardware. This new open-weight language model, designed with enhanced reasoning capabilities, will be available in the coming months. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed the plan in an update shared on X on March 31, explaining that the company would first gather feedback from the developer community to ensure the model is as useful as possible before its full launch.
“We’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but other priorities have taken precedence. Now it feels important to do,” Altman said. He highlighted that this would be the first “open-weight” model released since GPT-2 in 2019. While the model will not be fully open-source, as it’s not entirely accessible for anyone to modify freely, it represents a significant shift from the fully closed GPT-3 and GPT-4 models. Altman emphasized that developers would be able to use, download, and modify the model to meet their own needs.
Developer Events and Feedback Collection
To ensure the open-weight model meets the needs of the community, OpenAI will host developer events starting in San Francisco, where the company is headquartered. These events will provide a platform for developers to offer feedback and experiment with early prototypes. After San Francisco, OpenAI plans to take the event series to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
“We’re excited to see what developers build and how large companies and governments utilize this model when they prefer to run it independently,” Altman said. “We will make additional improvements post-release based on the feedback and modifications we receive.”
OpenAI’s First “Open” Model Since GPT-2
The release of an open-weight model is a major milestone for OpenAI, marking its first since the partial release of GPT-2 in February 2019. The full release of GPT-2 occurred later that same year. OpenAI’s shift toward making models more accessible aligns with the broader trend in the AI industry, where companies are increasingly offering tools that allow developers to create more customized applications.
Altman also confirmed that OpenAI plans to release GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 in the near future, continuing the company’s push to stay at the forefront of AI development. This follows recent competition in the AI space, with rivals such as DeepSeek—offering a model similar to ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost—gaining traction. Additionally, major players like Alibaba Group and Google have launched their own AI models, with Alibaba’s new open-source AI model for cost-effective AI agents launched on March 26, and Google’s introduction of Gemini 2.5 on March 25. Meta also made waves when CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that their Llama AI models, released in February 2023, had surpassed 1 billion downloads as of March 19.
The Importance of AI Hardware for Deep Learning Models
As OpenAI prepares to release its open-weight model, the demand for powerful AI hardware is expected to surge. The deep learning processes required to run models like GPT-2, GPT-3, and the upcoming open-weight model necessitate high-performance hardware capable of handling massive computational loads. For developers and companies looking to implement and run these AI models efficiently, having access to top-tier AI hardware is critical.
Whether you’re setting up your own AI research lab or scaling up for large enterprise applications, investing in advanced AI hardware ensures smooth, high-speed model execution. Discover the best AI hardware solutions for your deep learning needs here. With the right infrastructure, developers can maximize the potential of OpenAI’s new open-weight language model and create innovative applications that push the boundaries of AI.
