Sam Altman admits he was ‘very wrong’ on OpenAI’s AI timeline after GPT-4
Sam Altman has admitted he misjudged how fast AI would reshape the economy, telling David Senra's podcast he expected far more disruption soon after GPT-4 arrived in 2023. The OpenAI chief blamed economic inertia rather than the technology, saying people keep using the same tools and buying from the same companies. His concession that everyone has been "too ambitious on timelines" follows his own…
Sam Altman admitted to being "very wrong" about the timeline of OpenAI's AI technology after the release of GPT-4. During a podcast interview, the OpenAI CEO clarified that he had been incorrect about the rapid disruption that would follow the introduction of GPT-4. He attributed the delay to a slower economy with significant inertia, as people continued to use the same vendors and tools.
Altman framed this lack of change as a positive aspect for the transition, expressing gratitude for it being slower and smoother. He admitted that despite the impressive capabilities of the technology, society and the economy would adapt more gradually. Altman's GPT-4 prediction had not held up against the realities of the economy.
His previous forecasts had been shifting from 2025 to 2030, which coincided with OpenAI's financial struggles and a lack of profitability. Competitors and AI leaders have long questioned the certainty of AGI timelines, with some predicting it to be a decade or more away. As the AI race continues, the most outspoken advocate for patience is Altman, who believes the technology still works but the world it was intended to disrupt has other priorities.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
