OpenAI, the artificial intelligence startup behind the popular ChatGPT chatbot, has officially begun its 12 days of "ship-mas" event, a festive period of new feature, product, and demo announcements. The company kicked off the event on December 5th, unveiling an improved o1 reasoning model, a new $200 ChatGPT Pro subscription, and teasing the launch of Sora, its highly-anticipated text-to-video AI generator.

The improved o1 reasoning model, previously available in preview, is now available for ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with Enterprise and Edu users gaining access next week. This update marks a significant milestone for OpenAI, as the o1 model series has been a key area of focus for the company.

In addition to the o1 model update, OpenAI has introduced a new, more expensive tier for its flagship chatbot ChatGPT. The $200 ChatGPT Pro subscription offers unlimited access to GPT-4, Advanced Voice Mode, and an exclusive version of the o1 model. This move is likely to appeal to power users and businesses seeking more advanced AI capabilities.

Sources familiar with OpenAI's plans have confirmed that Sora, the company's text-to-video AI generator, will be launched during the 12-day "ship-mas" event. This highly-anticipated tool has the potential to revolutionize the video creation process, enabling users to generate high-quality videos from simple text prompts.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed the 12 days of announcements onstage at The New York Times' DealBook conference, though he didn't provide specific details on what's to come. With the company planning to launch or demo something new every day for 12 days straight, the tech community is eagerly anticipating the next announcements.

The "ship-mas" event is a strategic move by OpenAI to showcase its rapid innovation and development in the AI space. As the company continues to push the boundaries of what's possible with artificial intelligence, its announcements are likely to have significant implications for industries ranging from content creation to customer service.

With the AI landscape evolving at an unprecedented pace, OpenAI's 12 days of "ship-mas" are set to be a pivotal moment in the company's history. As the tech community watches with bated breath, one thing is clear: OpenAI is poised to make a lasting impact on the world of artificial intelligence.