In a recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, shed light on the company's vision for the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Altman's remarks come amid heightened interest and speculation about the development of AGI, a type of artificial intelligence capable of performing cognitive tasks similar to or even better than humans.
(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 16: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman looks on during the APEC CEO Summit at Moscone West on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California. The APEC summit is being held in San Francisco and runs through November 17. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sam Altman Talks About AGI
Altman's discussion with Fridman delved into various aspects of AGI and OpenAI's role in its creation. Altman emphasized that building AGI should be viewed as the beginning of a new era rather than a final destination.
He articulated a loose timeline, suggesting that AGI could potentially be ready by the end of the decade or even sooner. However, Altman cautioned against viewing the development of AGI as a mere milestone, stressing that it signifies the onset of significant societal transformations.
Altman stated in January at a Bloomberg-organized discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that AGI may be achieved in the "reasonably close-ish future."
Is AGI the Reason Behind Altman's Ouster in 2023?
The interview also touched upon Altman's tumultuous journey at OpenAI, including his unexpected ouster in 2023 and subsequent reinstatement. Altman candidly reflected on the challenges faced by the company, highlighting the importance of resilience and adaptability in guiding the company behind the current AI boom.
Prior to Sam Altman's four-day exile in November, some staff researchers reportedly penned a letter to the board, cautioning about a potentially powerful AI discovery, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. Many believe that the unreported letter might be referring to AGI.
"I am so looking forward to finishing the job of building beneficial AGI with you all-best team in the world, best mission in the world.," Altman said upon returning as CEO in November.
Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever
One of the notable topics of discussion was Altman's relationship with tech mogul Elon Musk, who has been engaged in a legal battle with OpenAI.
Despite the legal skirmish, Altman expressed admiration for Musk, referring to him as "amazing" and one of the "great builders of our time." Altman's conciliatory tone towards Musk comes as the billionaire recently called for Altman's company to change its name to 'ClosedAI,'
Altman also addressed speculation surrounding the absence of Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI's co-founder and Chief Scientist, during the boardroom saga. Dismissing rumors of Sutskever's apprehension towards AGI, Altman affirmed that neither he nor anyone else at OpenAI had witnessed AGI. Altman praised Sutskever's dedication to the AGI mission, emphasizing the importance of getting it right for the benefit of humanity.
Looking ahead, Altman expressed optimism about OpenAI's trajectory, highlighting the company's mission to make AI technology accessible to the public, without going open-source.
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