OpenAI is opening an office in Munich, marking its first location in Germany as part of its European expansion, the company announced Friday. The move strengthens OpenAI’s presence in Europe, where Germany already has the highest number of users, paying subscribers, and API developers leveraging its technology.
Key Points:
- Munich will be OpenAI’s first office in Germany, joining locations in Dublin, London, Paris, and Brussels.
- Germany is a key AI market due to its strong industrial, academic, and tech ecosystem.
- The office will initially focus on go-to-market, global affairs, and communications roles.
- OpenAI has been in talks with German officials since 2023, signaling a long-term commitment to the region.
The Munich office, set to open in the coming months, will initially focus on building teams across go-to-market, global affairs, and communications roles. This expansion follows OpenAI's recent establishment of offices in Paris, Brussels, and Dublin, demonstrating the company's growing commitment to the European market.
Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO and co-founder, points to Germany's strong technical foundation as a key factor in the decision. "Germany is renowned for its technical expertise, academic excellence and industrial innovation," Altman said in a statement. "Opening our first office in Germany means we can help even more people, businesses, institutions benefit from AI's possibilities."
The expansion has been in development since 2023, with OpenAI engaging in discussions with high-ranking German officials before finalizing their choice. While specific hiring numbers haven't been disclosed, this move represents a significant step in OpenAI's strategy to strengthen its European presence and tap into Germany's technical expertise and industrial innovation capabilities.
The move also comes amid increasing AI regulation in the EU, including the recently enacted AI Act. OpenAI’s European expansion suggests the company is positioning itself to work more closely with regulators while strengthening ties with local businesses and institutions.