Sam Altman addresses rumors of superintelligence.
Achieving AGI (artificial general intelligence, another name for superintelligence) is the main mission of the creator of ChatGPT OpenAI. The achievement represents the holy grail in the world of machine learning and is a priority for tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. In a recent post on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tried to quell rumors and quell the hype surrounding superintelligence and AGI (artificial general intelligence), which fans and enthusiasts say is already here. The effort to quell the noise went viral, garnering 3.1 million views (as of this writing).
AGI Hype vs. Hope from ChatGPT Insiders
wealth reports that rumors about AGI, which is a type of artificial intelligence that can understand, learn and perform human-like intellectual tasks, have received publicity and posts. Is advertising guaranteed, or wishful thinking, by ChatGPT enthusiasts? Altman said in a recent blog post that the company behind ChatGPT knows “how to build AGI as we’ve traditionally understood it.” He went on to say, “We’re starting to turn our focus beyond that to superintelligence in the truest sense of the word. We love our current products, but we’re here for the glorious future. With superintelligence, we can do everything else.”
“We will not do it [sic] deploy AGI next month, we haven’t even built it,” Altman declared.
Turing Award winner Geoffrey Hinton says, “Superintelligence is about AGIs that are better than humans. “Twenty years ago, I think people would have happily agreed that systems with GPT-4 or (Google’s) Gemini capability had achieved general intelligence comparable to that of humans,” says Hinton. By the way, the Turing Award is the Nobel Prize of technology. “Being able to answer pretty much any question would have passed the test. But now that AI can do that, people want to change the test.”
ChatGPT Approaching Superintelligence: Are We There Yet?
A senior researcher for OpenAI, Noam Brown, shared on X that there is no reason to panic. “There are good reasons to be optimistic about further progress, but many unsolved research problems remain,” he said on the social media platform.
OpenAI Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil tells Axios that humanity (read: ChatGPT) is “on the verge” of having AI agents that can perform real-world tasks. True superintelligence is able to distinguish fact from fiction, it seems. Axios reports that OpenAI this past week released an “Economic Agenda” arguing that with the right regulations and infrastructure investment, AI could “catalyze a reindustrialization across the country.” Such phrases and promises can boost a company’s valuation – but forward-looking statements are only part of the story. However, CEO Sam Altman has scheduled a closed-door meeting with US government officials on January 30, according to reports. Speculation is flooding the web, with talk of PhD-level super-agents who are ready and able to handle complex human tasks.
Leadership insight that goes beyond ChatGPT
If AI is able to perform at a human level, that doesn’t mean it should be treated like a deity. AI provides another perspective, and another voice, in the dialogue—the same way you would respond to a fellow expert, knowing that none of us is as smart as all of us. You will never abdicate your decision-making authority to someone with years of experience or advanced education. When you go to your doctor, you’re meeting with an expert—but ultimately, the choices you make are yours. Similarly, AI (even AGI) can inform human decisions, simplify repetitive tasks, and provide a course of action. The choice lies with you.
Even with advances in AI, as the saying goes, “there is no accounting for taste.” AI uses the past to predict the future, so it struggles with interpreting patterns it hasn’t seen before. In matters of opinion, intuition, prediction and human wisdom, AI is at a disadvantage. But working with AI and even AI agents can make a huge difference in so many fields or jobs – if we understand how to work with its potential. The message to every business out there is: you have a new team member called ChatGPT. Look beyond the noise and do what you do best: build a team around the resources that will help your business grow. If ChatGPT works at or near human levels, expand it to or near human levels of respect. And doubt. No submission. This type of collaboration is not based on superintelligence from ChatGPT – it’s simply the most intelligent way to work with a new quasi-human partner.
