OpenAI was founded with a long-term goal: to ensure advanced AI benefits humanity. Early work focused on research and experimentation, followed by large-scale model development. Over time, OpenAI began releasing models through both consumer-facing products and developer platforms, allowing individuals, teams, and organizations to apply AI to their work.
At a high level, OpenAI currently supports AI applications in two ways:
1) Direct access through OpenAI products, like ChatGPT or Codex. These are tools people can use immediately for learning, work, creativity, and building.
2) Composable building blocks through APIs. These allow developers to integrate model intelligence into their own workflows, products, and systems.
The sections below summarize the most common OpenAI products and what they’re designed for.
ChatGPT is OpenAI’s main user-facing product—a conversational interface that helps people write, think, learn, and solve problems. It’s designed for general-purpose use and supports tasks like summarization, brainstorming, tutoring, planning, and more.
There are also versions of ChatGPT designed for organizations and institutions, such as ChatGPT Enterprise or ChatGPT Business, which offer enhanced administrative controls, privacy features, collaboration, and deployment support.
Learn more about ChatGPT(opens in a new window).
Codex is OpenAI’s product for AI-assisted software development. It is optimized for understanding code, writing code, refactoring, debugging, and helping users navigate programming tasks—often through an IDE- or workflow-style interface rather than a general chat experience.
Learn more about Codex(opens in a new window).
## OpenAI API (Developer Platform)
The OpenAI API provides programmable access to OpenAI models. Developers can build applications that generate text or images, analyze content, write or interpret code, reason through problems, and interact with tools. The API is how OpenAI supports custom AI applications at scale—from internal automation to consumer products.
Learn more about the OpenAI API.
Across all these tools, OpenAI’s core goal is the same: to make powerful model capabilities useful, safe, and accessible by pairing them with thoughtful product design, developer tooling, and real-world safeguards.
## Continue learning with OpenAI Academy
Discover additional guides and resources to help you build practical AI skills.
Responsible and safe use of AI OpenAI Academy Apr 10, 2026
AI fundamentals OpenAI Academy Apr 10, 2026
Getting started with ChatGPT OpenAI Academy Apr 10, 2026
Our Research * Research Index * Research Overview * Research Residency * OpenAI for Science * Economic Research
Latest Advancements * GPT-5.3 Instant * GPT-5.3-Codex * GPT-5 * Codex
Safety * Safety Approach * Security & Privacy * Trust & Transparency
ChatGPT * Explore ChatGPT(opens in a new window) * Business * Enterprise * Education * Pricing(opens in a new window) * Download(opens in a new window)
Sora * Sora Overview * Features * Pricing * Sora log in(opens in a new window)
API Platform * Platform Overview * Pricing * API log in(opens in a new window) * Documentation(opens in a new window) * Developer Forum(opens in a new window)
For Business * Business Overview * Solutions * Contact Sales
Company * About Us * Our Charter * Foundation(opens in a new window) * Careers * Brand
Support * Help Center(opens in a new window)
More * News * Stories * Academy * Livestreams * Podcast * RSS
Terms & Policies * Terms of Use * Privacy Policy * Other Policies
(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)
OpenAI © 2015–2026 Manage Cookies
English United States
