One year after the groundbreaking release of ChatGPT, the AI revolution is fully underway. However, recent turmoil in the boardroom at OpenAI, the company behind the super app, has solidified the dominance of Big Tech in the field. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman strategically unveiled ChatGPT on November 30th last year, ensuring that this unsung AI technology would receive the recognition it deserves.
ChatGPT quickly became the most rapidly adopted app in history, captivating users with its ability to generate poems, recipes, and much more in mere seconds. Altman’s bold move propelled the 38-year-old Stanford dropout into household name status, establishing him as something of a philosopher king in the realm of AI, with influential figures eagerly listening to his every word.
Artificial intelligence, being intangible, poses unique challenges for explanation and comprehension. Margaret O’Mara, a historian at the University of Washington and author of The Code, emphasizes the importance of having a figurehead who can effectively communicate the intricacies of advanced technology. Altman filled this role splendidly.
However, Altman’s dedication to AI often takes on a quasi-religious fervor. OpenAI’s followers firmly believe that granting them the freedom and resources to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) at a level surpassing human capabilities will lead to a better world. Yet, the high costs associated with this mission forced OpenAI to align with Microsoft, a profit-driven powerhouse, resulting in a recent internal struggle.
Microsoft pledged a staggering $13 billion to OpenAI earlier this year, prompting Altman to redirect the company’s trajectory to one of profitability and justify the significant investment. This move sparked a boardroom rebellion by those who felt that OpenAI should prioritize their original ideals over financial gain. Venture capitalist Dave Morin referred to the conflict as a form of religious fundamentalism.
The tension between those who view AI as a tool for salvation versus those who view it with skepticism has defined the year since ChatGPT’s launch. Elon Musk exemplifies this dichotomy; after signing a letter calling for a pause in AI advancements, he famously started his own company, xAI, thus adding another player to the increasingly competitive AI field.
Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon have all integrated AI into their operations, making promises related to the technology’s potential and investing in AI startups. Corporations across various sectors are eager to harness AI capabilities, often utilizing cloud providers such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, or OpenAI.
Generative AI, however, has raised concerns about hallucinations where AI systems generate false, nonsensical, or offensive content. Consequently, initiatives to implement AI agents, advanced chatbots that assist with tasks such as email triaging, memo writing, and instant messaging, have emerged. These AI agents are designed to make the benefits of AI accessible to a broader audience.
As the rush to embrace AI intensifies, fear of potential dangers like human extinction, biases, job displacement, and large-scale disinformation has also grown. Industry experts argue that regulators should focus on issues such as the creation of pornographic deepfakes or biased AI systems rejecting loan applicants.
Ultimately, the recent boardroom drama at OpenAI underscores the victory of capitalists over idealists, as historian Margaret O’Mara aptly puts it. The next chapter of AI will undoubtedly be written with the active involvement of tech giants like Microsoft, which may even secure a seat on OpenAI’s board as a consequence of this conflict. Additionally, Nvidia, the manufacturer of GPUs (graphics processing units) vital for training AI, will play a crucial role in AI’s future, as these chips are sought after by startups, researchers, and major tech companies.
In summary, ChatGPT’s first anniversary marks a significant milestone in the AI revolution. Despite the internal challenges faced by OpenAI, the dominance of Big Tech in AI development and deployment is beyond dispute. The allure and potential of AI have captivated various industries, though concerns regarding misuse and ethical considerations persist. As society navigates the path ahead, the involvement of major tech companies and GPU manufacturers will undoubtedly shape the future of AI.
