People often ask this because OpenAI Dev Day happened in San Francisco around the same time many tech events were taking place. When several big technology gatherings overlap, it’s easy to assume they are officially connected. If you attended events, saw posts online, or checked event calendars, the confusion makes sense.
This article explains what OpenAI Dev Day is, what SF Tech Week is, and whether the two were actually part of the same event.
What Is OpenAI Dev Day?
OpenAI Dev Day is a developer-focused event hosted directly by OpenAI. The company uses it to share product updates, API changes, model improvements, and platform direction with developers, researchers, and businesses. The event usually includes live presentations, technical demos, and discussions around artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and OpenAI APIs.
OpenAI organizes Dev Day as a standalone conference. It has its own registration, schedule, venue, and agenda. OpenAI controls the speakers, announcements, and sessions. This matters because it separates Dev Day from community-led or city-wide tech festivals.
What Is SF Tech Week?
SF Tech Week is not a single conference. It is a collection of technology-related events hosted across San Francisco during a shared time window. These events include meetups, panels, startup demos, networking mixers, and company-hosted gatherings. Different organizers run each event, but they promote them under the same SF Tech Week banner.
The goal of SF Tech Week is to bring together the local tech ecosystem. Startups, investors, developers, and product teams use the week to connect. There is no single organizer controlling all events, and participation is often informal.
Did OpenAI Dev Day and SF Tech Week Happen at the Same Time?
Yes, OpenAI Dev Day took place during a period when SF Tech Week events were happening in San Francisco. This overlap is one of the main reasons people think Dev Day was part of SF Tech Week.
However, timing alone does not mean official inclusion. Many large tech companies schedule events when the city already has a high concentration of developers and founders. This increases attendance and networking opportunities, but it does not create a formal partnership.
Was OpenAI Dev Day Officially Part of SF Tech Week?
No. OpenAI Dev Day was not officially listed as an SF Tech Week event.
OpenAI did not announce Dev Day as part of SF Tech Week. SF Tech Week organizers did not list Dev Day as a core or hosted event. Dev Day remained a separate OpenAI-run conference with its own branding and structure.
That said, some side events related to Dev Day were promoted during SF Tech Week. For example, recap mixers, networking events, or informal meetups after Dev Day sometimes appeared on SF Tech Week calendars. This creates the impression of connection, even though the main conference stayed independent.
Why Do People Think OpenAI Dev Day Was Part of SF Tech Week?
Several factors contribute to the confusion.
First, both events happened in San Francisco at nearly the same time. Second, the audience overlapped heavily. Developers, founders, and AI professionals often attended both Dev Day and SF Tech Week events. Third, event listings and social posts sometimes mentioned Dev Day in the context of SF Tech Week activities.
Another reason is how modern tech weeks work. City-wide tech weeks often act as umbrellas for many unrelated events. When a major company hosts a conference during that period, people naturally group it in their minds with everything else happening.
What This Means for Attendees and Developers?
For attendees, the overlap was actually useful. Someone traveling to San Francisco for OpenAI Dev Day could also attend SF Tech Week meetups, networking sessions, or startup demos. This created more chances to connect with the local tech community.
For developers, it helps to understand the difference between official events and community gatherings. OpenAI Dev Day follows OpenAI’s roadmap and announcements. SF Tech Week events focus more on networking, discussion, and ecosystem growth.
If you plan future trips, checking both official company announcements and local tech week calendars gives a clearer picture of what’s happening.
Conclusion
OpenAI Dev Day was not officially part of SF Tech Week. It was a standalone event organized by OpenAI. However, it happened during the same period, in the same city, and attracted the same audience. Some related mixers and community events linked the two informally, which caused understandable confusion.
If this article helped clear things up, share it with others who asked the same question. And if you attended either event, feel free to comment with your experience.
