OpenAI’s “Shipmas”: All the Major Announcements So Far
OpenAI’s holiday marketing campaign, “Shipmas,” is in full swing, with 12 days of exciting product launches, feature rollouts, and demonstrations. From cutting-edge AI models to creative tools, here’s a recap of what’s been unveiled so far.
The Launch of “Shipmas”
OpenAI announced its festive campaign with a post on X, promising “12 days, 12 livestreams, and a bunch of new things, big and small.” CEO Sam Altman confirmed the campaign at The New York Times DealBook Summit, describing it as a series of launches and demos over 12 weekdays leading up to the holidays.
Day 1: Full Release of o1 Model and ChatGPT Pro
OpenAI kicked off “Shipmas” by launching the full version of its o1 reasoning model. Previously available only as a preview, this version offers faster, smarter, and more multimodal capabilities, processing both text and images seamlessly.
Max Schwarzer, an OpenAI researcher, revealed that updates to the o1 model reduced major errors by 34% while speeding up processing by 50%. The improved model reflects user feedback and enhanced human evaluation.
Alongside o1, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Pro, a premium tier priced at $200 per month. Subscribers get unlimited access to the latest o1 version, promising enhanced performance for professionals and businesses.
Day 2: Fine-Tuning Capabilities for o1
Day 2 introduced fine-tuning capabilities for o1, enabling users to train the model on their own datasets. Using reinforcement learning, individuals and organizations can now create domain-specific AI models tailored to their unique needs.
OpenAI announced partnerships with Reuters for legal AI tools and with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for rare genetic disease research, showcasing the wide-ranging potential of this technology. The public rollout of these tools is planned for 2025.
Day 3: Sora, OpenAI’s Text-to-Video Tool
One of the most anticipated announcements came on Day 3 with the reveal of Sora, OpenAI’s AI-powered text-to-video tool. Sora can generate 20-second videos from written prompts, extend existing footage, and create scenes in styles like “pastel symmetry” or “film noir.”
Available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, Sora allows 5-second videos for Plus subscribers and up to 20-second HD videos for Pro users. Features like a storyboard editor and a community-driven Explore page add a layer of creativity and collaboration.
Day 4: Canvas Tool Expansion
On Day 4, OpenAI expanded its Canvas tool to all ChatGPT web users. Previously exclusive to Plus and Team subscribers, Canvas transforms ChatGPT into a collaborative workspace for writing, editing, coding, and project planning.
Users can load large documents, receive targeted editing suggestions, or even test code within the tool. This intuitive interface broadens ChatGPT’s usability across various creative and technical fields.
Day 5: Integration with Apple’s Ecosystem
OpenAI announced its integration with Apple products as part of iOS 18.2. Users can now access ChatGPT directly through Siri and Apple Intelligence features without needing an OpenAI account.
From summarizing messages to photo editing and identifying objects via camera control, ChatGPT is seamlessly embedded into Apple’s ecosystem, enhancing user productivity and creativity.
Day 6: Advanced Voice Mode with Video and Screensharing
Day 6 brought the highly anticipated video and screensharing capabilities to Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT. Initially teased during OpenAI’s Spring Update, this feature is now accessible to users for real-time collaboration.
In a demo, ChatGPT guided a user through making pour-over coffee, offering feedback and answering questions. The tool’s ability to reason across text, voice, and video adds new dimensions to its interactivity.
Day 7: Projects for Organizing Conversations
On Day 7, OpenAI unveiled Projects, a tool for organizing conversations, files, and custom instructions within ChatGPT. Users can store notes, manage tasks, and customize the AI for specific workflows.
During a live demonstration, OpenAI showcased how Projects can be used for everything from creating work presentations to planning home maintenance. The tool is rolling out to Plus, Pro, and Teams users, with plans to make it available to free users soon.
What’s Next?
With five days of “Shipmas” remaining, anticipation is building for more groundbreaking releases. Fans hope for updates to existing tools and the launch of new innovations, continuing OpenAI’s streak of transforming AI technology into practical solutions.
OpenAI’s “Shipmas” campaign not only celebrates the holidays but also underscores the company’s commitment to advancing AI accessibility and functionality for users around the globe.
