AI isn’t ready to cure cancer yet, but can boost research efficiency, says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

OpenAI CEO in conversation with IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on February 5

Artificial intelligence (AI) may not be ready to cure cancer on its own, but it can significantly enhance the efficiency of researchers working on complex problems, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on February 5.

Altman, while speaking in a fireside chat with India's IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "This (Deep Research) can help someone review the existing literature and find some connections. But this is not an innovator yet."

This comes in the context of OpenAI releasing Deep Research, a model that is capable of undertaking PhD level research.

Altman said, "I don’t think we're yet at the technological level where any of us should expect these models to go cure cancer on their own. We will get there, I think. Yes. But for now, I think this can help researchers be much more productive in what they do."

"You can double the efficiency of every scientist on Earth with the tool we have today, which I believe might be possible," he added.

Altman suggested that AI tools can streamline the more time-consuming, lower-value aspects of research, such as literature reviews, ordering supplies, and structuring experimental steps.

"If you are a scientist trying to cure some disease, deep research is surely not going to go cure that disease on its own. But if you can farm out the tasks that took you a lot of time but were lower value, you learn to work that way, maybe you can be twice as efficient," Altman said.

Altman remains optimistic that scientists and researchers will quickly adapt, leveraging AI to maximise their productivity.

"It took a while for the world to figure out how to use ChatGPT—not that long, like months, not years. And I think it's going to take months, not years, to figure out how people become really productive with Deep Research."