OpenAI is exploring the development of a social network centered on a strict “real humans only” model, according to people familiar with the project. The initiative, still in its earliest stages, is designed to address the widespread bot activity that has distorted engagement and discourse across major platforms, particularly the service formerly known as Twitter.
Sources said the project is being developed by a small internal team of fewer than 10 people. The concept under consideration would require users to verify their identity as a real person, potentially through biometric authentication. Options discussed include Apple’s Face ID or the World Orb, a biometric device that scans a user’s iris to generate a unique identifier. World is operated by Tools for Humanity, a company founded and chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
If implemented, biometric verification would mark a significant departure from how existing social networks authenticate users. Platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn rely primarily on phone numbers, email addresses, and behavioral signals to confirm identity. None currently require biometric data to establish that an account represents a real person. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about such approaches, warning that biometric identifiers, unlike passwords, cannot be changed if compromised.
Addressing Bots and Synthetic Engagement
The effort reflects growing frustration within the tech industry over the scale of automated and AI-generated accounts on social platforms. Bot networks have long been used to manipulate cryptocurrency markets, amplify misinformation, and generate spam. These issues have been especially visible on X, where moderation and trust and safety staffing were sharply reduced following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company.
Altman has publicly criticized the rise of AI-driven accounts. In recent posts, he has said that online conversations increasingly feel artificial and referenced the “dead internet theory,” which argues that much of today’s online activity is generated by non-human actors.
OpenAI declined to comment on the project. Media reports earlier indicated that the company was experimenting with social networking features, but no public product or launch timeline has been announced. Sources cautioned that the concept could change substantially or be abandoned before any public release.
Strategic Fit and Competitive Landscape
It remains unclear how a social network would integrate with OpenAI’s existing products, which include ChatGPT and the AI video tool Sora. People familiar with the project said the platform could allow users to generate and share AI-created content such as images or videos. Competing services are already moving in that direction. Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, allows in-app AI image generation and reported 3 billion monthly active users as of late 2025.
OpenAI would face intense competition if it entered the social media market. X, Instagram, TikTok, and Meta’s Threads all command large user bases, while newer platforms such as Bluesky have attracted tens of millions of users seeking alternatives. Industry executives have warned that feeds across platforms are increasingly filled with synthetic content, raising questions about authenticity and trust.
OpenAI has demonstrated an ability to build highly viral consumer products. ChatGPT reached 100 million users within two months of launch and has since grown to more than 800 million users. Sora surpassed 1 million downloads in under a week. Still, launching a social network would represent a new strategic direction, placing OpenAI in direct competition with established consumer internet companies while testing whether strict human verification can meaningfully improve online discourse.
