Deutsche Telekom (DT) and OpenAI have this week announced a multi-year partnership that will see the telco utilize OpenAI's enterprise offering internally.

OpenAI is the company behind the advanced AI chatbot ChatGPT.

Deutsche Telekom notes that it will gain early access to an alpha-phase model, with the first pilots planned for early next year. The carrier said it will work with OpenAI to design new AI-powered products and improve how people communicate.  

The duo will "design simple, personal, and multilingual AI experiences across communication and everyday productivity."

“With our frontier research and enterprise platform, we’re supporting them in upgrading and strengthening operations, and deploying advanced AI across both customer experiences and internal workflows,” said Brad Lightcap, COO at OpenAI. 

“This is not a typical vendor relationship; it is a strategic collaboration helping shape the future of AI in Europe. Together with OpenAI, we are building next-generation products, strengthening our core operations with AI,” added Abdurazak Mudesir, board member for product and technology at Deutsche Telekom. “We are focused on making AI intuitive, secure, and meaningful in everyday life for our customers, employees, and our networks.”

As part of the tie-up, DT will make ChatGPT Enterprise available across the organization.

It's estimated that more than 800 million people use ChatGPT weekly.