OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Predicts ‘Super Intelligence’ Will Be More Significant Than AGI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes that while artificial general intelligence (AGI) may arrive sooner than expected, its impact will be less significant initially. He predicts that ‘super intelligence’ will be more profound and come with greater safety concerns, though this level of intelligence is still years away. Altman suggests that economic disruption from AGI will take time to unfold, with changes occurring gradually. He speculates AGI could arrive by 2025, driven by OpenAI’s existing technology and large language models, amidst its ongoing deal with Microsoft.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has downplayed the immediate risks of artificial general intelligence (AGI), suggesting that its development may come sooner than expected but will not have as much impact initially. In an interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit, Altman stated that while AGI might arrive sooner than anticipated, its effects will not be as dramatic as many think. He explained that AGI could be built without causing immediate disruptions, and its societal impact may take time to unfold.

Altman further highlighted the potential concerns surrounding ‘super intelligence,’ which he believes will be more significant and come with greater safety challenges. However, he estimates that reaching super intelligence is still years away. He anticipates it could take a few thousand days before reaching this level of technology. Altman also noted that economic disruption from AGI would likely take longer than many predict, with early changes being subtle before larger shifts occur.

Despite OpenAI’s charter outlining AGI’s potential to automate most intellectual labor, Altman has speculated that AGI could arrive as soon as 2025, leveraging existing hardware and OpenAI’s language models. This prediction comes amid OpenAI’s ongoing partnership with Microsoft, which has shaped the company’s approach to AGI development.