Microsoft Set To Bet Big With Rumored $10 Billion Investment Into OpenAI

Marketers and technologists believe that ChatGPT's rapidly rising popularity—the app was only released in late November—may signal the start of a new trend of leveraging AI to create text-based content. The hype surrounding AI has grown in light of rumors that Microsoft may spend up to $10 billion in OpenAI, the startup that created ChatGPT and DALL-E. Microsoft declined to comment on "speculation," a spokeswoman told Digiday. Depending on whom you speak to, generative AI in marketing is either well-received or barely noticed. Agencies report that many clients are eager to try it out. (Earlier this week, Ryan Reynolds starred in a new commercial for Mint Mobile that was created with ChatGPT.) Mark Himmelsbach, founder partner of the advertising firm Episode Four, is one of the agency executives enthusiastic about ChatGPT. He asserts that ChatGPT can support the development of divergent thinking despite its current constraints and notes that the company has already utilized the platform for creating client briefs and strategy work. “The amount of lateral thinking that ChatGPT can provide is an incredible starting point for creativity,” Himmelsbach said. “It still needs that human touch. We say that ideas can come from anywhere, but have to be honed by a few.”