In the digital realm, data is the new currency, and every click tells a story.
OpenAI’s Pinterest Play: Chasing the Data Edge
Could OpenAI be eyeing Pinterest as part of its growing data ambitions?
That’s one of the rumors gaining traction after being highlighted in a predictions post published by The Information last week. According to the report, OpenAI may be considering an acquisition of Pinterest to secure more human-generated data insights, particularly around product searches. Such a move could bolster ChatGPT’s capabilities as a shopping tool and open additional advertising revenue opportunities.
OpenAI currently faces a disadvantage compared to Meta, xAI, and Google, as it lacks a social or search network to gather real-time user insights. It relies heavily on third-party data to power ChatGPT and other offerings. As businesses increasingly recognize the value of their data for AI training, maintaining access to relevant insights becomes more challenging. Meanwhile, competitors continue to feed billions of fresh data points into their systems daily.
OpenAI Eyes Pinterest: A Shortcut to Data Domination
To mitigate this, OpenAI has signed multiple data agreements, including partnerships with News Corp, Conde Nast, and Disney. The Disney content licensing deal, for instance, allows Sora and ChatGPT users to generate AI depictions of Disney characters. However, these agreements are expensive, making ownership of a social app a potentially more sustainable way to collect engagement data, track search trends, monitor products, and derive brand insights.
Pinterest, with 600 million monthly active users, has developed industry-leading AI tools, including sophisticated product search algorithms that enhance shopping-related activity on the platform. The app has established itself as a discovery hub and a valuable connector in online shopping. Merging Pinterest with OpenAI could strengthen both companies’ positions against competitors in AI, social, and e-commerce domains.
So, could OpenAI be looking to acquire Pinterest? According to analysts, yes—it’s a logical step. The main risk lies in whether OpenAI can monetize quickly enough to justify the investment, or if competitors could outpace it in relevance and data-driven insight. OpenAI’s stock rose 3% the day after The Information published its predictions.
In the high-stakes game of AI, those who hold the richest streams of human behaviour may ultimately write the rules.
Summary
OpenAI may be considering acquiring Pinterest to gain access to human-generated product search data and enhance ChatGPT’s shopping and ad capabilities, according to The Information. With 600 million active users and advanced AI tools, Pinterest could provide a strategic edge. OpenAI faces monetization and competition challenges, but an acquisition could strengthen its position in AI, social, and e-commerce.
