OpenAI CEO says AI is nearing ‘genie’ moment

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company is approaching the creation of a technology capable of "granting every wish," but stressed that artificial intelligence must benefit humanity and remain widely accessible rather than becoming a tool of authoritarian control, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Speaking on a podcast, Altman discussed the current state of artificial intelligence and its future, saying that major uncertainties remain, including AI safety and its impact on jobs. However, he said one of his greatest concerns is the emergence of what he described as "AI authoritarianism."

Altman warned that it would be "very bad" if a particular group, individual, or company believed it could use artificial intelligence to control the world. Instead, he said OpenAI's goal is to make AI "extremely widespread, extremely inexpensive, and extremely powerful" while ensuring it is available to everyone.

He argued that broad access to AI would significantly improve human well-being, provided that authoritarian control over the technology is avoided.

Altman also said AI has progressed beyond simply imitating humans and has entered a stage where it can develop in unpredictable ways. He noted that such capabilities would have seemed like a far-fetched dream just a decade ago, but now believes they have the potential to produce highly positive outcomes for the world.

Without naming specific companies, Altman said some organizations have "very frightening" visions for the future of AI and pledged to work to prevent those scenarios from becoming reality.

Addressing the challenges facing OpenAI and the broader AI industry, Altman concluded with a striking analogy:

"First, we're getting close to building a genie that can grant every wish. Second, we'll make sure our first wishes bring enormous benefits to humanity and help create a world where many more people have many more wishes they can fulfill."

Photo: Chat GPT