OpenAI enters code red mode often as rivals close in, CEO Sam Altman says it is good to be paranoid
Following a code red alert at OpenAI after the release of Google Gemini 3, CEO Sam Altman has claimed that his company will likely go in emergency mode often in a bid to stay ahead of rivals in the AI race.
Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared ‘code red’ after Google’s release of Gemini 3. The AI startup reportedly pushed back some of its plans to double down on ChatGPT, with the release of GPT-5.2. It seemed that Altman’s firm was facing a tense time. However, the OpenAI chief has insisted that this was not the first time that the startup had faced a code red situation.
Sam Altman is prepared to be paranoid with code red alerts
During his appearance on the Big Technology Podcast, Sam Altman claimed that OpenAI has gone "code red" multiple times. These emergency alerts, triggered in response to significant advances by rivals, have now become a recurring strategy for the company. Sam Altman highlighted the necessity of responding swiftly to competitors, stating, "It's good to be paranoid and act quickly when a potential competitive threat emerges."
Deepseek also trigged code red at OpenAI
The OpenAI CEO reckoned that while Google Gemini 3 did not have too big of an impact, it was key to highlighting some areas where his company could improve. Altman hinted that this was similar to the time when Deepseek first rolled out. He explained, “[Gemini 3] did not have the impact we were worried it might. But it did — in the same way that Deepseek did — identify some weaknesses in our product offering strategy, and we're addressing those very quickly.”
Altman revealed that before Gemini 3, OpenAI went into code red following the release of Deepseek.
Sam Altman believes that code red alerts will stay a recurring theme at OpenAI, hinting that it allows the company to address weaknesses against rivals. He said, "My guess is we'll be doing these once maybe twice a year for a long time, and that's part of really just making sure that we win in our space."
OpenAI likely to exit code red soon
OpenAI has responded by quickly rolling out upgrades. The company recently shipped GPT-5.2, a more advanced AI model to enhance ChatGPT's performance in professional, coding, and scientific applications, as well as a big update to ChatGPT Images.
Reflecting on the duration and frequency of these emergency phases, Altman said, "Historically, these have been kind of like six- or eight-week things for us.” Now, the OpenAI chief believes that the company will not stay in code red for “much longer.”
Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared ‘code red’ after Google’s release of Gemini 3. The AI startup reportedly pushed back some of its plans to double down on ChatGPT, with the release of GPT-5.2. It seemed that Altman’s firm was facing a tense time. However, the OpenAI chief has insisted that this was not the first time that the startup had faced a code red situation.
Sam Altman is prepared to be paranoid with code red alerts
During his appearance on the Big Technology Podcast, Sam Altman claimed that OpenAI has gone "code red" multiple times. These emergency alerts, triggered in response to significant advances by rivals, have now become a recurring strategy for the company. Sam Altman highlighted the necessity of responding swiftly to competitors, stating, "It's good to be paranoid and act quickly when a potential competitive threat emerges."
Deepseek also trigged code red at OpenAI
The OpenAI CEO reckoned that while Google Gemini 3 did not have too big of an impact, it was key to highlighting some areas where his company could improve. Altman hinted that this was similar to the time when Deepseek first rolled out. He explained, “[Gemini 3] did not have the impact we were worried it might. But it did — in the same way that Deepseek did — identify some weaknesses in our product offering strategy, and we're addressing those very quickly.”
Altman revealed that before Gemini 3, OpenAI went into code red following the release of Deepseek.
Sam Altman believes that code red alerts will stay a recurring theme at OpenAI, hinting that it allows the company to address weaknesses against rivals. He said, "My guess is we'll be doing these once maybe twice a year for a long time, and that's part of really just making sure that we win in our space."
OpenAI likely to exit code red soon
OpenAI has responded by quickly rolling out upgrades. The company recently shipped GPT-5.2, a more advanced AI model to enhance ChatGPT's performance in professional, coding, and scientific applications, as well as a big update to ChatGPT Images.
Reflecting on the duration and frequency of these emergency phases, Altman said, "Historically, these have been kind of like six- or eight-week things for us.” Now, the OpenAI chief believes that the company will not stay in code red for “much longer.”