Krux
March 18, 2026
OpenAI Killing Side Projects to Focus on Code and Enterprise
Published: March 18, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Updated: March 18, 2026 at 12:39 AM
100-word summary
OpenAI is cutting side projects to double down on coding tools and business products, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. Sam Altman and Mark Chen previewed the shift with executives, planning to notify staff in coming weeks about which initiatives get axed. Which projects? OpenAI won't say. The company declined to comment entirely. The move suggests the ChatGPT maker is trading breadth for depth, betting that developers and corporate buyers matter more than experimental bets. It's a sharp reversal for a company that seemed to launch something new every month last year. Apparently chasing every shiny idea has limits, even when you're OpenAI.
What happened
OpenAI is cutting side projects to double down on coding tools and business products, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. Sam Altman and Mark Chen previewed the shift with executives, planning to notify staff in coming weeks about which initiatives get axed. Which projects? OpenAI won't say. The company declined to comment entirely. The move suggests the ChatGPT maker is trading breadth for depth, betting that developers and corporate buyers matter more than experimental bets. It's a sharp reversal for a company that seemed to launch something new every month last year.
Why it matters
Apparently chasing every shiny idea has limits, even when you're OpenAI.