Codex for open source

OpenAI is rolling out a new pitch to the exhausted volunteers who keep huge chunks of the internet running: apply for six months of ChatGPT Pro, possible access to extra security tools, and some coding credits through its new Codex for Open Source. On paper, it sounds like a rescue package for the people stuck reviewing fixes, sorting bug reports, and trying to keep important software from falling apart.

But the comment section? Way less applause, way more side-eye. One of the biggest worries was who counts as “important” enough to get picked. Commenter vintagedave basically asked whether this is only for the internet’s biggest stars, while smaller projects and niche programming communities get left in the dust. In plain English: if your project is vital but not famous, are you out of luck?

Then came the skepticism brigade. monster_truck wanted receipts, asking how this differs from OpenAI’s earlier open-source fund and whether anyone can even see who won before. That fed into the grumpy mood from sscaryterry, who summed the process up with the brutally short complaint: “Hurdles, more hurdles.” Ouch.

Still, not everyone was throwing tomatoes. 2001zhaozhao called it a smart win-win: OpenAI gets good publicity, maintainers get help, and maybe software security improves. But the spiciest theory came from winfredJa, who guessed the real prize for OpenAI is “high quality training data.” And just like that, the wholesome helper program turned into a classic internet drama: charity, marketing, or data gold rush?