Sam Altman puts OpenAI on red alert amid growing pressure from Google Gemini

Just a few months ago, OpenAI was being seen as the leader in the artificial intelligence (AI) race. However, the tech industry changes rapidly. Last month, Google launched Gemini 3, its most advanced Large Language Model (LLM) to date. It seems that pressure on OpenAI is increasing. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly issued a code red for the startup firm.

In an internal memo reported by The Information and The Wall Street Journal, Sam Altman has urged urgent improvements to ChatGPT as competition with Google’s Gemini 3 AI model intensifies.

In the memo, Altman reportedly told employees that he was announcing a “Code Red” to improve ChatGPT. He particularly stressed the need to enhance the “day-to-day experience” of the platform, making it faster, more reliable, and “better at answering a broader range of questions”.

What will OpenAI do after red alert?

According to the report, OpenAI will now focus solely on ChatGPT, refining its personalization, response speed, reliability, and ability to answer questions. Sam Altman has asked employees to delay several ongoing projects, including the integration of ads, AI-powered shopping features, and the ChatGPT Pulse personal assistant.

Altman’s move comes in response to Google’s recent advances, which have raised questions about OpenAI’s ability to maintain its lead in the rapidly evolving AI assistant landscape.

ChatGPT dominates AI assistant usage globally

OpenAI has not issued any official comment on the contents of the memo. However, ChatGPT head Nick Turley acknowledged the renewed focus in a public X (formerly Twitter) thread. Turley wrote: “Our focus now is to make ChatGPT even more efficient, continue to grow, and expand reach around the world – while making it feel even more intuitive and personal.” The statement reflects the company’s intention to double down on user experience amid competitive pressures.

Turley’s thread also highlighted ChatGPT’s current reach, claiming it holds the position of “the #1 AI assistant worldwide with nearly 70% assistant usage.”

OpenAI will delay ads on ChatGPT

Amid this internal refocusing, reports indicate that the planned advertising integration within ChatGPT is now on hold. While references to advertising have been found in ChatGPIT’s Android app code and OpenAI has tested some ad formats, Altman said in October that the company had “no current plans” to introduce advertising. Turley said in a previous interview that OpenAI would not “explicitly” reject ads, but that any implementation would be “very thoughtful and tasteful.”

The push for the upgrade also comes as OpenAI considers how to balance user experience with potential monetization. Some delayed initiatives, such as an AI shopping tool and the Pulse Assistant, had already been publicly unveiled but have now been left behind as the company addresses immediate competitive threats. Industry analysts say the company’s response to these pressures could define its future trajectory in the AI ​​assistant field.