Can OpenAI Respond After Google Closes the A.I. Technology Gap?
By Cade Metz and Mike Isaac, Reporting from San Francisco | December 11, 2025
As the race for artificial intelligence supremacy intensifies, OpenAI faces new pressure following Google’s recent announcement that its advanced AI model, Gemini 3, has surpassed OpenAI’s performance and claimed the title of the best AI technology in the world. Less than a month after Google’s bold claim, OpenAI fired back with the launch of its latest model, GPT-5.2, which the company describes as “the best model yet for real-world, professional use.”
In a blog post, OpenAI highlighted that GPT-5.2 topped several industry-standard benchmarks, notably in areas such as computer programming, math, and science, reaffirming its relevance across economically critical domains. Despite these claims, experts view the latest developments as a sign that the once wide technological gap between OpenAI and its competitors has effectively disappeared.
A Precarious Moment in AI Competition
This narrowing gap arrives at a critical juncture for OpenAI. Although it projects reaching $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2025, according to CEO Sam Altman, the company is still far from turning a profit. Plans to sustain growth require OpenAI to invest heavily—an eye-popping $1.4 trillion is earmarked for computing power over the coming years, a necessity for developing and deploying increasingly complex AI systems.
When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, it positioned the San Francisco-based startup well ahead of industry rivals, setting the stage for what many called the AI boom. For over two years, OpenAI maintained a clear technological lead. However, during the past twelve months, both U.S. and Chinese companies have made significant strides, creating AI models that rival or even exceed the capabilities of OpenAI’s foundational technology.
The Convergence of AI Foundations
Rayan Krishnan, CEO of Vals AI—a firm specializing in tracking AI performance—summed up the trend by stating: “The overall shape and form of what it takes to build foundational models is well understood — and is happening roughly the same way inside every major A.I. lab.”
This convergence means most of the leading AI labs are now producing foundational models with similar architectures and performance levels. For OpenAI, this implies that maintaining a distinct competitive edge is more challenging than ever, requiring not only technological innovation but also sustainable business strategies.
Looking Ahead
As OpenAI and Google continue to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve, the competition is shifting from who builds the first breakthrough technology to who can effectively apply and monetize these models in professional and consumer contexts. OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 and Google’s Gemini 3 represent the forefront of this new era, where multiple companies vie closely on technology and impact.
The AI industry watches closely as this intense rivalry unfolds, aware that these advances could profoundly transform sectors like software development, scientific research, and beyond. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s ability to navigate a narrowing technology gap while managing significant financial demands will be critical to its long-term success in the AI frontier.
This article was originally published by The New York Times.
