Writing in his bog, Altman predicted AI agents could begin integrating into workplaces by 2025. He outlined plans to develop AI systems surpassing human-level intelligence across all domains.
"We are now confident we know how to build AGI as we have traditionally understood it," wrote Altman.
Altman said in the early days of OpenAI, nearly nine years ago, when the idea of AGI was met with scepticism. Despite the doubts, Altman said he and his team believed in the potential of AGI to be the most impactful technology in human history. Their ambition was to build AGI and make it broadly beneficial to society.
Altman describes the challenges of building a company around new technology, often without clear guidance or training. The process has been messy, with many mistakes and setbacks. Despite this, the journey has been immensely rewarding and transformative.
He said that a pivotal moment in Altman's career occurred over a year ago when he was unexpectedly fired during a video call.
“Getting fired in public with no warning kicked off a really crazy few hours, and a pretty crazy few days. The “fog of war” was the strangest part. None of us were able to get satisfactory answers about what had happened, or why,” he said. “The whole event was, in my opinion, a big failure of governance by well-meaning people, myself included. Looking back, I certainly wish I had done things differently, and I’d like to believe I’m a better, more thoughtful leader today than I was a year ago.”
He said he learned the importance of a board with diverse viewpoints and broad experience in managing a complex set of challenges.
“Good governance requires a lot of trust and credibility. I appreciate the way so many people worked together to build a stronger system of governance for OpenAI that enables us to pursue our mission of ensuring that AGI benefits all of humanity.”
Looking ahead, Altman said he was confident in OpenAI's ability to build AGI and believes that AI agents will soon join the workforce, significantly impacting companies' output. He envisions a future where superintelligent tools accelerate scientific discovery and innovation, leading to greater abundance and prosperity.
