OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has painted a tantalizing picture of what to expect from the highly anticipated GPT-5 AI model. Balancing optimism with caution, he emphasized that GPT-5 will be a substantial improvement over its predecessor, GPT-4, and will not encounter insurmountable issues. He believes that GPT-5 will address many of GPT-4’s weaknesses, particularly in areas like logical reasoning and error prevention, where GPT-4 occasionally makes nonsensical mistakes that even a child wouldn’t make.
Altman likened the current state of AI technology to the early days of the iPhone, suggesting that while today’s models are useful, they are still in the nascent stages of their potential. He noted that current AI models, including GPT-5, are relatively small compared to what future advancements might bring. Interestingly, Altman’s recent comments on model size indicate a slight shift from his previous stance. Last year, he suggested that the era of giant models might be coming to an end. Now, he seems to believe that models will continue to grow, driven by significant investments in computing power and energy.
Altman is confident that GPT-5 will correct many of GPT-4’s shortcomings, particularly in reasoning and error prevention. However, he also emphasized that there is still considerable work to be done. He anticipates that optimizing and fine-tuning the new model will require substantial effort.
During the discussion, Altman also addressed some of the biggest controversies surrounding AI, particularly content licensing. He highlighted that OpenAI has agreements with publishers to license news content for ChatGPT in exchange for training data for the models. This contrasts with companies like Google, which claim that AI-driven traffic benefits publishers—a claim that Altman and many others view with skepticism.
Altman also tempered expectations about the impact of AI on the internet and the broader economy. He suggested that AI might not massively but still significantly change how people use the internet, emphasizing the need for new approaches in commerce. In his view, the changes in internet usage brought about by AI could lead to the evolution and adaptation of some of the economic models of the past.
Altman hinted that GPT-5 is just the beginning of a series of advancements aimed at developing more sophisticated and capable AI systems. The next few months will be critical in determining whether GPT-5 can deliver on its promise of a significant leap forward, addressing the limitations of its predecessors and paving the way for more advanced AI applications.
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