In February of 2023, ChatGPT Parent’s CEO, Sam Altman, warned the world that AI was “not far from potentially being scary”. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) became part of the discussion following Altman’s remarks, when Google reportedly expressed dismay at the possibility of Samsung using Bing AI as a default search engine. Altman had expressed his concern over the rapid advancements in AI technology and its potential to cause disruption within society. He compared the current transition the world is going through – “from the pre-smartphone world to post-smartphone”, to the transformation that could accompany a fully-fledged AI-dominated world, citing the unequal reaction such a move could evoke. He also stated the importance of regulation in order to help society adjust to this momentous change.
Microsoft responded to Altman’s remarks by limiting user interaction with Bing Chat, as they reasoned that overuse of AI by users could confuse the AI model and thus, lead to unexpected results. The company, following this, capped interaction with Bing Chat to five questions per session and, fifty such sessions a day.
Microsoft is an American public multinational technology company that is among the world’s most prominent companies. It is undoubtedly one of the most renowned names in the tech industry and is the world’s largest software company, with products ranging from software, cloud computing services, consumer electronics, video games and more.
Samuel Hastings Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor and computer scientist. He is the former president and CEO of Y Combinator, a Silicon Valley accelerator and venture capital firm, having held the post since 2014. He is also Chairman of OpenAI, a research laboratory whose mission is to develop friendly AI in a way that benefits humanity. Altman is also well-known for his proclamations on the rapid advancement of AI technology, having a more human perspective on the effects it may have on our lives.
