- Speculation that OpenAI might buy Pinterest has sparked intense backlash from some Pinterest users.
- They worry that AI could disrupt one of the Internet’s last largely user-curated creative spaces.
- The rumor, which was originally a prediction rather than a reported deal, nonetheless sent Pinterest’s stock price soaring.
The idea that OpenAI could acquire Pinterest arose from a speculative predictions article by The informationbut it was enough to spark outrage among many Pinterest users and send Pinterest’s stock price soaring, even without any sort of official statement. On Reddit and other corners of the internet, longtime Pinterest users have not been shy about expressing their revulsion at the potential decision.
The initial prediction presented the acquisition as a logical extension of OpenAI’s strategy. The company could leverage Pinterest’s rich image archives, existing advertising channels and store connections to help it develop its own generative commerce ambitions.
OpenAI’s image models and Sora’s video generation tools are already advancing rapidly. Pairing them with Pinterest’s consumer-facing curation engine and shoppable inspiration catalog could be a shortcut to achieving its goals. This likely contributed to Pinterest’s stock rise.
But Pinterest users don’t just care about logistics or stock prices. They’re asking questions about control and creativity following OpenAI’s acquisition of the platform they spend so much time on. An aversion to the idea of AI filling their digital albums permeated the reactions.
On Reddit’s r/Pinterest, the reaction was swift and emotional. “But seriously, this is really depressing. I hate that AI is being pushed into every corner of my life,” one user wrote. “I know we just started the new year, but I so need this to be an April Fool’s joke right now,” wrote another.
Many have expressed the opinion that Pinterest seems to be the last social platform that still makes its users feel like they belong. People use it to collect ideas, plan renovations, gather recipes, design weddings, map fantasy shelves, and other speculative dreams.
Some promised to download their paintings and leave the platform altogether if the purchase actually took place. Many didn’t like the idea that their creative ideas, mood boards, or simply half-formed plans could serve as fodder for training in AI tools.
Pinterest users’ opposition to AI
While AI-generated images and summaries are integrated into Google results, Amazon listings, Canva templates, and even weather apps, Pinterest’s use of AI has been mostly experimental, involving visual search, personalized feeds, and a ChatGPT-style search tool. But the user experience remains focused on manual curation. You choose what goes on your board.
Arguably, this digital behavior built around collecting and visual thinking may be exactly what OpenAI wants to exploit. This disconnect between intention and perception is why speculation seems so loaded.
To be clear, no concrete agreement is in the works. The informationThis prediction was just one of many forward-looking statements regarding 2026, and not a report based on inside information. Neither company has confirmed its interest. But even without real movement, the reaction shows that the mere possibility is enough to trigger a cultural explosion.
If OpenAI were to acquire it, the brand would likely have to work overtime to reassure users that their maps won’t become raw material for machine learning pipelines. The intensity of the reaction suggests that the story of consumer AI integration is far from settled. People still decide where they draw the line. And some may simply disconnect entirely rather than be forced into the AI space.
“I was a beta Pinterest user in 2010. Three years later, when Google Reader was removed, I pinned all of my saved blog posts. I planned parties, designed my living spaces, created wish lists, and determined my personal style. Plus, I learned to be a better person and parent,” one Reddit user wrote. “I’m so disappointed by this, it’s a huge loss. Even more reason to disconnect.”
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