OpenAI: From a Non-Profit Experiment to a Hybrid Model

To understand who owns ChatGPT, we must first understand what OpenAI is. The company was founded in 2015 as a non-profit research laboratory. Its original goal was to ensure that artificial intelligence serves humanity and is not controlled by a single powerful entity. Among the founders were figures such as Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and other significant tech leaders.

Over time, however, the reality of AI development has changed. Training state-of-the-art models, such as the current GPT-5, requires billions of dollars in investment in computing power and data. This led to a transformation of the structure. OpenAI today operates as a so-called "capped-profit" company. This means it has a non-profit matrix that controls the profit-making division. Investors can generate profits, but they are limited by a cap to preserve the company's original mission. This is a key difference compared to standard publicly traded companies that are sensitive to immediate profits for shareholders.

Microsoft: The Partner Holding the Keys

The biggest question for many people is: "Does Microsoft own ChatGPT?" The answer is neither entirely black nor entirely white. Microsoft is not the owner of OpenAI in its entirety, but it holds a significant stake, estimated at around 27%.

This relationship is symbiotic. Microsoft provides OpenAI with a massive amount of computing power through its Azure cloud platform and simultaneously invests tens of billions of dollars. In return, OpenAI integrates its models into Microsoft products, such as Copilot in Office or Windows. For the average user, this means that even though you are using ChatGPT, the technology behind it is deeply connected to the Microsoft ecosystem that you use at work and at home.

What does this mean for companies and data security?

For Czech companies starting to implement AI, this relationship is fundamental. Thanks to its investment in OpenAI, Microsoft offers enterprise solutions where great emphasis is placed on data protection. If a company uses ChatGPT through Azure OpenAI Service, its data is not used to train public models, which is critical for compliance with GDPR and European security standards.

Elon Musk: Where is he today?

The question often arises whether ChatGPT belongs to Elon Musk. Although he was one of the original founders, Musk is no longer part of OpenAI. His departure from the company was complicated and led to a split in views on how AI should be governed. Today, Musk is dedicated to his own projects (e.g., xAI), and his relationship with OpenAI is more confrontational than partnership-based.

Technology Comparison: Where does OpenAI stand in 2026?

Currently (April 2026), the battlefield between the largest models has intensified. OpenAI, with the GPT-5 model, still leads in the area of complex reasoning and logical tasks. If we were to look at benchmarks, GPT-5 shows 15–20% better results in MMLU (Massive Multitask Language Understanding) tests than the previous generation.

Here is a brief comparison of the current leaders:

• OpenAI (GPT-5): Best in logic and programming, wide ecosystem integration.
• Google (Gemini 2.0): Leader in multimodality (natural real-time processing of video and audio) and integration with Google Workspace.
• Anthropic (Claude 4): Often preferred for a "more human" writing style and a high degree of safety and ethical tuning.
• Meta (Llama 4): The king of open-source alternatives, allowing companies to run their own models locally.

Availability in the Czech Republic and Prices

For Czech users, OpenAI is very accessible. ChatGPT is fully available in Czech, which includes not only chatting but also the model's ability to understand Czech cultural contexts and grammar. This makes it one of the best tools for the Czech market.

Pricing Policy (approximate values):

• Free Tier: Free. You get access to basic models with a limited number of queries.
• ChatGPT Plus: Approximately 20 USD (approx. 470 CZK) per month. Provides priority access, higher limits, and the latest models.
• ChatGPT Team/Enterprise: Individual pricing for companies, focused on higher security and team management.

Impact of EU Regulations (AI Act)

As a European user, you must know that OpenAI must comply with strict EU AI Act rules in the EU. This means that models must be more transparent regarding what they were trained on, and mechanisms must exist for mitigating risks associated with the generation of disinformation. For Czech companies, this means that using AI tools is safer and more legally defined within the EU than in other parts of the world.