Leaked OpenAI memo reveals “Code Red” amid ongoing ChatGPT backlash

OpenAI is in full crisis mode. A leaked memo shows CEO Sam Altman has declared “code red,” pulling teams off other projects to focus entirely on improving ChatGPT. This comes after intense scrutiny over safety issues, with some users reporting serious mental health risks and frustration that recent updates made the chatbot feel less personal.

The internet isn’t impressed. Developers also found code suggesting search ads could be coming to ChatGPT, a move some call inevitable and others call “Actual AI slop.” While ads haven’t been confirmed, Altman is reportedly preparing a new reasoning model next week, said to outperform Google’s Gemini 3, as OpenAI races to reclaim its competitive edge.