OpenAI names Slack CEO Dresser as first chief of revenue as ChatGPT maker aims to make a profit

OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief revenue officer, signaling a strategic push toward profitability in a move announced Tuesday from the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

The ChatGPT maker said Dresser will be responsible for developing global revenue strategy and helping businesses integrate AI into their daily operations, a critical step as the company faces mounting pressure to monetize its groundbreaking technology.

Dresser brings extensive experience from her 14-year tenure at Salesforce, where she played a key role in integrating Slack following its $27.7 billion acquisition in 2020. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff subsequently appointed her as Slack’s CEO in 2023.

“We are grateful for Denise’s leadership during her 14 years at Salesforce,” the company stated. Rob Seaman, Slack’s chief product officer, will assume her responsibilities on an interim basis while Salesforce determines long-term leadership plans.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for OpenAI, which has recently faced internal challenges. CEO Sam Altman issued a “code red” alert to employees earlier this month, emphasizing the need to improve ChatGPT and prioritize core product enhancement over new development initiatives.

Despite launching ChatGPT just over three years ago and sparking the current generative AI boom, OpenAI now confronts intensifying competition. Google recently released Gemini 3, its advanced AI assistant, while other tech giants continue to develop rival systems, threatening OpenAI’s early market advantage.

The competitive landscape has created urgency around OpenAI’s business model. Although Altman claims ChatGPT has amassed an impressive user base of more than 800 million weekly users, the company, valued at $500 billion, has yet to turn a profit. More concerning for investors, OpenAI has committed more than $1 trillion in financial obligations to cloud computing providers and chipmakers that power its sophisticated AI systems.

These massive financial commitments have intensified investor concerns about a potential AI bubble. The appointment of a dedicated revenue chief appears designed to reassure backers like Oracle and Nvidia that OpenAI is serious about developing sustainable business models.

Currently, OpenAI generates revenue primarily through premium ChatGPT subscriptions, though most users access the free version. The company has taken steps toward diversification, launching Atlas, its own web browser, in October 2023—a move interpreted as an attempt to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance as internet users increasingly turn to AI for information.

Unlike Google, which generates substantial advertising revenue from its search engine, OpenAI has not yet implemented advertising in ChatGPT. This represents a potential untapped revenue stream that Dresser might explore in her new role.

Industry analysts note that OpenAI’s challenge goes beyond developing cutting-edge AI—the company must now demonstrate it can convert technological leadership into financial sustainability. This transition from innovation leader to profitable enterprise is a common hurdle for pioneering tech companies.

The hiring of Dresser suggests OpenAI is entering a new phase in its corporate evolution, focusing on commercialization while maintaining its technological edge. Her experience managing Slack’s integration into Salesforce’s broader ecosystem could prove valuable as OpenAI seeks to embed its technology across diverse business applications.

As AI continues to transform industries, OpenAI’s ability to establish viable revenue streams will likely influence not just its own future but broader market perceptions about the commercial viability of generative AI technologies.