OpenAI threw a party on the sidelines of ICML 2026, complete with a performance by Korean pop star CHUNG HA. The OpenAI logo was front and center on stage. When she encountered a researcher who didn't recognize her, she reportedly said, "If you don't know who I am, just ask ChatGPT."
Videos of the event spread quickly. One attendee joked they had already canceled their Claude subscription. Another claimed an Anthropic researcher complained that candidates were skipping their recruiting dinner to attend the K-pop show.
ICML this year drew 20,456 in-person attendees, selling out for the first time. OpenAI, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple were all competing for AI talent inside and outside the conference venue.
