New Delhi - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently visited New Delhi, where he had a significant meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss India's thriving tech ecosystem and explore the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) for the nation. Altman expressed his enthusiasm for the discussions and described them as productive and insightful.
During his visit to New Delhi, Altman also had the opportunity to address students and other members of the audience at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi). He shared his experiences and thoughts on India's tech landscape, emphasizing the tremendous potential AI holds for the country's growth and development.
Altman took to Twitter to express his satisfaction with the meeting, stating that he had a "great discussion" with Prime Minister Modi. He highlighted India's remarkable tech ecosystem and expressed his optimism about how the nation can leverage AI to its advantage. Altman also conveyed his appreciation for all the meetings he had with people at the Prime Minister's Office (PMOIndia), indicating that these interactions further enriched his understanding of India's technological landscape.
During his visit, Altman also addressed the topic of OpenAI's future developments, particularly regarding the successor to ChatGPT, known as GPT-5. Altman clarified that the organization is currently focused on other essential tasks and has not yet commenced training for GPT-5. He stressed that a significant amount of work and additional safety audits are required before the next iteration of AI models can be realized.
Altman's views align with those of prominent figures in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Twitter, and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. In March, Musk, Wozniak, and others published an open letter urging AI labs worldwide to temporarily halt the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. The letter received support from over 1,100 experts and executives from various countries, highlighting the concerns surrounding the rapid pace of AI research and development.
Altman acknowledged the concerns expressed in the open letter but also acknowledged that it didn't fully capture the technical complexities involved in AI development. He affirmed that OpenAI has not initiated training for GPT-5 and emphasized that it won't do so for the foreseeable future. Altman's remarks reflect a commitment to responsible and cautious advancement in AI technology, recognizing the importance of addressing safety and ethical considerations along the way.