ChatGPT creator Sam Altman wants AI to be your "super competent colleague", here's why

Sam Altman

In a recent Q&A session at Stanford University, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, made some candid remarks about the current state and future of artificial intelligence, particularly regarding ChatGPT-4 and its successors. Altman. The OpenAI CEO described ChatGPT-4 as “the dumbest model any of you will ever have to use again,” indicating that while it was a significant advancement at its time, it pales in comparison to what is expected from future AI models.

Now, Altman — considered a leading light in development of generative AI — has spoken about how he wants people to think of AI.  In an interview with the MIT Technology Review, Altman said that when it comes to AI what you really want is a “super-competent colleague that knows absolutely everything about my whole life, every email, every conversation I've ever had, but doesn't feel like an extension.”

Altman implied that he wanted people to think of AI as more than just a chatbot that can help with queries and more. AI, as per Altman, should be able to accomplish things in the world.

Altman is rumoured to be working with Jony Ive, former design chief at Apple on an AI device. However, he told MIT Technology Review that it’s not necessary to have a specialised device. “I don’t think it will require a new piece of hardware,” he said before adding that he does think AI devices are exciting. But Altman said that it might not be up his alley. “I’m very interested in consumer hardware for new technology. I’m an amateur who loves it, but this is so far from my expertise.”

OpenAI is facing stiff competition from new AI models from the likes of Meta, Anthropic and Google. It is expected that OpenAI will launch an advanced GPT-5 model this year. Altman confirmed that it is in the works but hasn’t dropped any hints about when it may be made available to the users.