AI Has Been Somewhat Demystified Because People Really Use It Now: OpenAI Chief Sam Altman

Altman expressed optimism about the alignment of AI values, citing progress in ensuring safety between GPT-3 and GPT-4.

Altman distinguished between displaying content and using it for AI model training.

During a Davos panel discussion themed 'Navigating the Tech Landscape Amidst Global Challenges,' Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, explored the future trajectory of artificial intelligence (AI), sharing profound insights into its impact on global economies and societies. The session, titled 'AI: Catalyst for Economic and Social Transformation,' took centre stage at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, underscoring Altman's focus on the transformative power of AI.

Altman remarked, "Even with its very limited current capability and its very deep flaws, people are finding ways to use this tool for great productivity gains or other gains and understand the limitations. People understand tools and the limitations of tools more than we often give them credit for."

He went on to say, "People have found ways to make ChatGPT super useful to them and understand what not to use it for, for the most part. AI has been somewhat demystified because people really use it now. And that's always the best way to pull the world forward with new technology."

Reflecting on a pivotal year for generative AI, Altman's statements from the session illuminated both the potential and hurdles ahead.

Acknowledging AI's current constraints, Altman emphasised users' adeptness at harnessing its capabilities for significant productivity improvements.

Altman addressed the issue of trust in technology, expressing confidence that AI systems would evolve to articulate their reasoning in natural language.

He stated, "I have a lot of empathy for the general nervousness and discomfort of the world towards companies like us... We have our own nervousness, but we believe that we can manage through it and the only way to do that is to put the technology in the hands of people. Let society and technology co-evolve and sort of, step by step, with a very tight feedback loop and course correction, build these systems that deliver tremendous value while meeting safety requirements."

This approach, Altman asserted, would enable users to comprehend the AI's journey from point A to B, promoting transparency and accountability.

Contrary to fears of AI replacing human-centric activities, Altman drew a comparison with chess. Despite Deep Blue's 1997 victory, human interest in chess has surged, emphasising our inherent connection to human achievements and creativity.

Altman highlighted humans' superior tools for understanding each other's desires.

Anticipating a shift in job roles, Altman envisioned AI enabling individuals to focus on generating ideas and making decisions at a higher level of abstraction.

Altman expressed optimism about the alignment of AI values, citing progress in ensuring safety between GPT-3 and GPT-4.

"When a user says, 'Hey, ChatGPT, what happened at Davos today?' we would like to display content, link out to brands of places like the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or any other great publication and say, 'Here's what happened today' and then we'd like to pay for that. We'd like to drive traffic for that," Altman stated.

However, the challenge lies in determining who decides these values, considering societal differences. Altman endorsed scrutiny of AI technology and stressed the tech industry's responsibility to seek input from society.

Altman distinguished between displaying content and using it for AI model training. He proposed new economic models to compensate content owners when their data is employed for training models, emphasising the necessity for a paradigm shift in discussions about AI training.

The session, an integral part of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, offered a comprehensive perspective on AI's evolving role and its implications for global economies and societies.

Prominent figures such as Marc Benioff, Julie Sweet, Jeremy Hunt, and Albert Bourla joined Altman as panelists, collectively exploring these critical issues.