Sam Altman ‘worried’ Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta and Nvidia could control AI
OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman expresses concern that AI might fall under the control of just a handful of companies. He emphasizes the idea that both society and AI systems must evolve together over time. Acknowledging the over-optimism in his past AI timeline projections, Altman points out how the economy's natural inertia can delay technological changes, allowing for a more gradual adjustment to new…
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed concern that a few large companies, models, or individuals could ultimately control artificial intelligence, potentially limiting consumer influence over how the technology shapes society. Speaking on David Senra's podcast, Altman advocated for society and AI models to co-evolve, emphasizing the need for people to remain deeply in control of the future.
This comes amid massive investments from Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Nvidia into AI infrastructure, leading to a global competition. China has adopted open-weight models, enabling developers to share and modify AI systems at lower costs, while U.S. firms debate adopting a similar approach. While OpenAI has released two open-weight models, it maintains closed frontier systems.
Altman cautioned that fears of AI escaping human oversight might paradoxically result in tighter control by a few players. He also criticized U.S. AI leaders for not demonstrating how the technology can empower individuals, stating that AI could foster greater autonomy in people's lives. Altman admitted he was "very wrong" about the timeline for AI's disruptive impact, attributing his mistake to a slow economy with high consumer inertia.
He framed this as a positive development, suggesting it would make the transition smoother and slower, and expressed regret that society and the economy will adapt more slowly despite the technology's capabilities.
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.
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