Is OpenAI Crafting The Next Internet

PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

As I watched the internet debate over who would win between 100 men and 1 gorilla (yes, this is an actual debate online), I couldn't help but become invested in the outcome. I laughed at the ridiculous comments and marveled at the stunning AI videos.

Then something hit me like a ton of bricks, or in this case, like a gorilla. 🤯

It was so profound, I actually said to myself…

"Self, OpenAI will probably be the biggest company we have ever seen."

Also: Meet the most important AI tool that no one is talking about - but everyone needs

I know, I know -- that's a crazy thing to say, and it's incredibly random.

But let me cook! 🤌

You see, OpenAI isn't just replacing search, shopping, or realistic videos of gorillas. OpenAI could replace the internet itself. 😮

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

If you're new to my work, my name is Les. I'm a founder and award-winning performance marketer who now focuses on helping everyday people spot and leverage AI opportunities by paying attention to the right trends, not the flashy headlines.

Also: Most AI chatbots devour your user data - these are the worst offenders

If you're into that kind of stuff, I put together a free report called 3 lucrative AI opportunities you can't afford to ignore in 2025, featured in my newsletter No Fluff Just Facts. It breaks down each opportunity, why it matters, how to succeed, and the tools to make it happen. You can click here to get your copy of the report. It's totally free. 🚀

But enough about that. I have to tell you why I think OpenAI might be Skynet… I'm KIDDING. 🤪

Let's discuss why OpenAI could become the biggest company ever.

Understanding the landscape

Before we jump into why I think OpenAI could replace the internet as we know it, we need to understand what people are doing on the internet.

Also: Google's Jules AI coding agent built a new feature I could actually ship - while I made coffee

If we are being technical, the internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that allows users to communicate and share information worldwide.

The internet is where we get answers to questions, check up on friends, look for medical advice, figure out what to buy, get relationship advice, and so on. As the internet evolved, it also helped us be more productive at work, and for many of us, it became a source of income, whether directly or indirectly.

Now here's where it gets trippy.

Based on everything I just said, you could replace "internet" with "ChatGPT," and my statements would still make sense -- except for checking up on friends. ChatGPT does all of these other things exceptionally well and in a fraction of the time.

In fact, according to Khyati Hooda of Keywords Everywhere, ChatGPT handles 54% of queries without using traditional search engines. This alarming stat indicates a shift in how users seek information. As the adoption grows and ChatGPT cements itself as the single source of information, the internet as we know it becomes kinda pointless.

Also: I test a lot of AI coding tools, and this stunning new OpenAI release just saved me days of work

Basically, ChatGPT is cutting out the middleman, but what's even scarier is that it's working. 😩

ChatGPT reached 1 million users in just 5 days and has 400 million weekly active users as of early 2025, making it the fastest-growing consumer app in history.

The platform receives over 5.19 billion visits per month, ranking as the 8th most visited website in the world.

Adoption is especially high among younger generations. 43% of US adults aged 18 to 29 have used ChatGPT, compared to 6% of those 65 and older.

What started as a chatbot has become a platform where people book travel, plan meals, write emails, create schedules, and even do homework. Surveys show that around 80% of ChatGPT users leverage it for professional tasks such as drafting emails, creating reports, and generating marketing content.

This marks a fundamental shift in how we engage with the internet, where more everyday tasks move from web browsing to a prompt.

Also: AI developers should be philosophers as much as technologists

The line between ChatGPT being just a tool and becoming a portal for how we engage with the world is disappearing. 😔

What the future could hold

Now that we understand the landscape, let's look at the future.

ChatGPT has made major moves in recent months:

• Search: Instead of combing through several web pages, users can ask and receive answers instantly within the chat interface.
• Shopping: Tools are emerging that help users compare, recommend, and even complete purchases inside the chat environment.
• Partnerships: Integrations with companies like Stripe and Expedia allow users to take real-world actions, such as booking travel or making payments, without leaving ChatGPT.
• AI agents: ChatGPT can now book travel, handle tasks, and automate online processes on your behalf, capabilities that were science fiction just a few years ago.
• Software generation: Thanks to the platform's advanced code generation abilities, users can build functioning software products using just a well-constructed prompt.
• Image and video generation: Making movies of 100 men vs 1 gorilla from a prompt is crazy, and while not perfect, it broadly threatens creators and editors, as well as the entertainment industry as we know it.

Also: The best AI for coding (including two new top picks - and what not to use)

It's hard to believe that if you said any of this would happen a few years ago, you would've sounded insane. But now? Based on how fast this technology is moving, it's almost expected. 😔

I wouldn't be surprised if ChatGPT added a super agent that does tasks autonomously by December of this year. Amazed? Sure. But surprised? Nah.

It's not hard to imagine a near future where ChatGPT doesn't just replace the internet but OpenAI becomes the foundation for future companies, in the same way that roads became the foundation for civilization. 🤓☝️

So that raises a couple of questions:

1. Do we even need a browser anymore?
2. Is there a world where your operating system is just ChatGPT and replaces MacOS and Windows?

In many ways, it's kinda cool but pretty terrifying since no one else is even close, and any industry is up for grabs as long as OpenAI decides it's worth entering.

Also: The best AI image generators: Gemini, ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more

OpenAI is already making moves toward hardware. The company is finalizing the design of its first custom AI chip, with mass production targeted for 2026, aiming to reduce reliance on Nvidia and other chipmakers.

OpenAI has also filed trademarks and acquired Jony Ive's AI device startup, hinting at ambitions in consumer electronics, including AI-powered devices, wearables, and humanoid robots. 🎯

What does this mean for you?

Let's take a step back from ChatGPT and look at the AI landscape as a whole.

I see AI as an operating system, not a direct replacement for people. Some roles will become obsolete, but new ones will be created.

The game is changing, not ending. 🤓☝️

According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum:

• A net of 78 million jobs will be added globally by 2030. That includes 170 million new jobs created (14% growth) and 92 million lost (8% decline).
• By 2030, about 39% of current skills will be outdated or completely transformed. That's not surprising given that the fastest-growing skills are AI, big data, networks, and cybersecurity. But what stood out is that soft skills like resilience, creativity, and flexibility are also in high demand.
• 59% of the global workforce will need training. Of that, 29% will be upskilled in their current role, 19% will shift to a new one with additional training, and 11% risk being left behind without reskilling.
• 85% of employers plan to prioritize upskilling. 70% expect to hire for new skills.
• 50% of companies plan to reorient their entire business strategy around AI. Two out of three plan to hire for AI-specific skills, while 40% say they expect AI to shrink parts of their current workforce by automating tasks.

That might sound bleak on the surface, but remember, we're talking about 78 million new jobs, where some of those roles will be in companies that don't exist yet.

Also: AI is huge, but this opportunity will be even bigger - how to take advantage today

In order to thrive, your only move is to adapt and improve. Saying "AI isn't good at [blank]" is unwise because if history has taught us anything, mediocre often replaces good. That's just how disruption works.

That said, I'm incredibly bullish on what makes us human: empathy, storytelling, vulnerability, things machines can't replicate. When you pair these traits with AI to handle the repetitive stuff, it's a powerful combination. 💪

AI might not replace you directly, but the person who knows how to use it might.

My two cents

Ultimately, no one knows what the future will hold, but I can confidently tell you one thing.

If you stand still, never evolve, never improve your skills, and never push yourself to be better, life will decimate you like a gorilla vs 100 men. 😏

Also: Want to win in the age of AI? You can either build it or build your business with it

😇 Hope this helps. I'm rooting for you.

P.S. Don't forget to download your free report on 3 lucrative AI opportunities.

Want more stories about AI? Sign up for Innovation, our weekly newsletter.