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HomeWorldSam Altman feels 'useless' witnessing GPT-5’s power, compares it to Manhattan project

Sam Altman feels 'useless' witnessing GPT-5’s power, compares it to Manhattan project

Sam Altman reveals his awe at GPT-5’s capabilities, likening its impact to historic scientific breakthroughs while acknowledging AI’s growing cognitive dominance.

August 07, 2025 / 14:50 IST
Sam Altman reacts to the power Of ChatGPT-5

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed feeling "useless" while observing the capabilities of ChatGPT-5, the company’s newest AI model, during a podcast. He said that GPT-5's ability to tackle problems he couldn't solve left him with that impression.

"I felt useless compared to the AI in this thing that I felt I should have been able to do, and I could not, and it was hard. But the AI just did it like that. It was a weird feeling," Altman said during a podcast.

GPT-5 is anticipated to launch later this month. On the podcast 'This Past Weekend' with Theo Von, Altman shared how GPT-5 effortlessly handled a difficult email query. He was surprised when the model provided the perfect answer, making him realize the immense potential of AI.

Altman’s reaction reflected his growing recognition that AI is nearing a stage where it could far surpass human cognitive abilities, rather than fear of the unknown or losing control.

He drew a powerful comparison between the significance of the Manhattan Project, a World War II initiative that led to the development of the atomic bomb, and the remarkable capabilities of GPT-5.

"There are moments in science when people gaze upon what they have created and ask, 'What have we done?'" he explained.

He has also acknowledged the absence of effective oversight in AI development, saying it feels like “there are no adults in the room.”

Moneycontrol World Desk
first published: Aug 7, 2025 02:40 pm

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