ChatGPT one year on: From viral AI bot to OpenAI’s boardroom battle | Cyprus Mail
OpenAI’s widely-known chatbot, ChatGPT, celebrated its first birthday recently, prompting curiosity about its experience. However, as a computer program, ChatGPT clarified that it does not possess feelings or consciousness like humans do. Despite this, its remarkably human-like responses have captivated the world over the past year. As ChatGPT’s influence continues to grow, concerns regarding the role of AI in society have also arisen.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, faced a significant upheaval recently with a boardroom battle that led to the unexpected departure and subsequent return of CEO Sam Altman. This event added another layer of intrigue to the eminent AI company’s story.
ChatGPT astoundingly became the fastest-growing software application globally within just six months of its launch. Its success also spurred the development of rival chatbots from major players such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and numerous startups, attracting billions in funding.
The generative AI trend has disrupted several industries including cloud computing, customer service, movie editing, and screenplay writing. Competitors to ChatGPT, such as Bard, Anthropic’s Claude, Character.AI, and Microsoft’s CoPilot, have also experienced an influx of users. Nevertheless, ChatGPT continues to dominate the market.
Six months after its website launch, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT as an application for both Apple’s iOS in May and Android in July. Since then, downloads of the app on both platforms have steadily increased, generating revenue for OpenAI through in-app purchases, as reported by data analytics firm Apptopia.
The artificial intelligence boom has produced notable winners. Nvidia, as the primary supplier of chips powering ChatGPT and other generative AI applications, became the first and only chip company to achieve a $1 trillion valuation, solidifying its status as the biggest beneficiary of the AI surge. Additionally, cloud computing service providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet have witnessed substantial boosts in their shares due to the prevalence of these applications running on their platforms.
The launch of ChatGPT prompted substantial investments from leading tech giants. Microsoft and Alphabet poured billions into enhancing their cloud computing capabilities and expanding their capacity for AI workloads, responding to businesses’ growing adoption of such tools.
While ChatGPT has garnered mass appeal, controversies have inevitably arisen. Some argue that the program’s responses can occasionally be biased, reflecting the potential risks associated with AI technology.
In summary, ChatGPT’s first year has been marked by its global popularity and human-like conversational abilities. OpenAI, the parent company, faced its own internal challenges but has remained at the forefront of the AI revolution. Other competitors have entered the market, and the AI industry as a whole has experienced significant growth and investment. As the influence and capabilities of AI continue to expand, society must grapple with the implications and ethical considerations surrounding this groundbreaking technology.
