Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly prominent topic in news headlines, as its transformative potential captures the imagination of individuals and industries alike.
Among the pioneering platforms driving this technological revolution is ChatGPT, a remarkable natural language processing tool fuelled by AI. Through ChatGPT, users can engage in human-like conversations and explore a wide range of applications. The generative AI sector is poised for exponential growth, with projections indicating its expansion from $10 billion in 2022 to a staggering $110.8 billion by 2030. Furthermore, generative AI is anticipated to account for a remarkable 10 percent of all data produced by 2025.
At the forefront of this AI movement is the creator of ChatGPT, OpenAI – an influential AI research company co-founded by Sam Altman, who also serves as its CEO. To date, OpenAI has secured a staggering $10 billion in funding from its partnership with Microsoft, resulting in a valuation of nearly $30 billion. This substantial investment has been instrumental in propelling OpenAI’s growth, particularly in bolstering its computing infrastructure and pushing the boundaries of AI technologies.
With a steadfast dedication to championing the profound impact of AI and the need for meaningful conversations surrounding its development, Altman embarked on a global tour to engage with experts, entrepreneurs, students and government officials. Recently, Altman found himself in the bustling atrium of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) at an exclusive gathering hosted by Hub71, where he eagerly fielded a myriad of questions and shared his invaluable insights on AI’s present and future.
“We are honoured to welcome Sam Altman to Abu Dhabi, where he will deliver a compelling talk on the profound impact of AI in our societies today. Abu Dhabi’s commitment to hosting this talk exemplifies the country’s recognition of AI’s significance and the need to foster a conducive environment for its advancement. By engaging in conversations with global icons like Sam Altman, we embrace the opportunity to deepen our understanding of AI’s transformative capabilities and harness its power to shape a brighter future. Through this dialogue, Hub71 reaffirms its dedication to driving innovation, and positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for technological progress,” according to representatives of Hub71.
Here are 5 notable quotes from Sam Altman’s visit to the UAE:
‘AI models are tools, not creatures’
Within the realm of AI, the notion of “singularity” holds great significance. This elusive concept represents the point at which AI surpasses human influence and brings about rapid societal transformations. What makes the AI singularity particularly intriguing is its inherent challenge in pinpointing its onset and comprehending what lies beyond this technological “event horizon.”
When probed about the idea of singularity and its imminence, Altman said, “I think we’re close enough. But I think it’s important that we realise these are tools and not creatures that we’re building.”
He noted that when it comes to AI, it is crucial to ensure that humans get to make the decisions about how they work.
“It’s a mistake to take humans out of the loop. I think it’s very important that the future of humanity is determined by humanity.”
‘Go all in on AI’
When asked about the best environments and initiatives to support and scale startups in the UAE and the rest of the region, Altman has one response: “Go all in on AI.”
He explained how AI will be the “thing that is going to matter in the next decade” and highlighted that the technology could pave the way for the greatest startup boom since the internet.
Altman is no stranger to supporting startups. In 2011, the tech entrepreneur became a part-time partner at Y Combinator, an American technology startup accelerator that has helped launch more than 4,000 companies, including Airbnb, Coinbase, Cruise, DoorDash, Dropbox, Instacart, Quora, Reddit, and Stripe. In 2014, Altman assumed the role of president at Y Combinator, taking over from co-founder Paul Graham. By 2016, he had become the president of the newly expanded YC Group. He stepped down as President of YC Group in 2019.
While in the UAE, Altman also met with Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to discuss ways to bolster partnerships between the UAE government and OpenAI on developing AI-driven solutions.
‘We face serious risks. We face existential risks’
In May, Altman appeared before the US Congress to discuss the risks associated with AI. Shortly after, the OpenAI CEO signed a statement advocating for the mitigation of AI that could potentially endanger human existence.
During his visit to Hub71, Altman warned about the “existential risk” to humanity that AI poses and suggested a way to regulate the technology.
“As with any really powerful technology, we face serious risk, we face existential risk. The challenge that the world has is how we’re going to manage those risks and make sure we still get to enjoy the tremendous benefits.
Altman pointed to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a noteworthy instance of global collaboration in ensuring regulations. He highlighted that this agency was established in the aftermath of the United States’ deployment of atomic bombs on Japan towards the conclusion of World War II.
“Let’s make sure we come together as a globe — and I hope this place [UAE] can play a real role in this,” he said.
‘There will be many more [jobs] that none of us can imagine’
Responding to widespread concerns about AI displacing human jobs and the potential rise of super-intelligent AGI replacing humans in various domains, Altman holds a positive view on how AI can actually enhance human creativity and productivity.
Drawing from his research, he asserts that any level of transformation in the labour market can be effectively adapted within two generations. He emphasises the importance of proactive planning for these changes over a 10-year timeframe, deeming it a prudent course of action.
“I don’t believe we will just run out of work to do,” he said. “I think with more powerful tools, we will do a lot more stuff, it may almost certainly look different than many of the jobs of today. But I think I could name with confidence that there will be many more [jobs in the future] that none of us can imagine.”
‘AI does not get you off the hook for having to be a good company’
Altman was then asked about the strategies companies should employ to construct their AI-powered products in a manner that generates a competitive edge and proves challenging to replicate.
In response to the question, Altman reflected on the evolution of technology and its impact on business differentiation. He recounted a time when the iPhone App Store was first introduced, and companies eagerly identified themselves as mobile-powered entities. This designation held immense value back then, as it signified an innovative edge in utilising the powerful capabilities of pocket-sized supercomputers. Startups like Uber, relying heavily on mobile apps, emerged following this period and thrived.
However, Altman noted that the landscape has drastically changed since those early days. Having a mobile app has now become the norm for almost every company, rendering the label of being a mobile company far less significant.
As technology progresses, he predicted that in the near future, even AI integration alone will cease to distinguish a company from its competitors. He anticipated a time when AI will be expected as a standard offering across all businesses, and its absence would be considered perplexing.
“AI does not get you off the hook for having to be a good company. This is just like one more tool that lets you do more things better. But it doesn’t excuse you from the hard work of building a company,” he said.
