OpenAI to open doors to first Asia office in Tokyo: report

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman / Photo credit: Y Combinator

ChatGPT developer OpenAI is set to launch its first Asian office in Tokyo, reported Nikkei Asia, citing sources.

OpenAI will likely hire local talent for the Japan-based office, which will offer customer support to companies using its technology.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, had met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo last year, expressing interest in the region. At the time, Altman pledged to work with the Japanese government to protect user privacy and safety.

As AI gets widespread global attention, numerous countries are vying to secure a share of the generative AI pie.

Singapore’s Temasek Holdings is reportedly in early-stage discussions to invest in OpenAI. This follows the city-state’s efforts to become an Asian AI powerhouse, having set aside roughly US$742 million for investments in the sector.

Altman is also in talks with the government of the United Arab Emirates to raise funds for AI chip development.

Meanwhile, another big name making moves in the AI space is ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. The China-based firm recently posted over 100 job openings related to generative AI, with around 40 of these positions being for Singapore-based roles focusing on large language models.

See also: Is Singapore’s LLM project timely or too late?