Sam Altman Promises More Advancements in AGI

On Monday, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, took to his blog to reflect on the company’s past and outline its future ambitions. He expressed a firm belief that OpenAI is equipped to create artificial general intelligence (AGI) as traditionally defined and is now aiming for a “brilliant future” characterized by artificial super-intelligence. Altman also mentioned that OpenAI’s premium subscription service, priced at $200 per month, is currently a financial loss for the company.

“We are proud of our current offerings, but we are focused on the glorious future ahead,” Altman stated. “Tools that achieve superintelligence could remarkably enhance scientific advancement and innovation, far exceeding our current capabilities, leading to widespread abundance and prosperity.”

In previous discussions, OpenAI outlined AGI as AI systems that possess intelligence superior to that of humans. Recently, however, Altman hinted that this definition may evolve, suggesting, “We will reach AGI sooner than most anticipate, and it will be less significant than it seems.”

The financial sustainability of OpenAI’s operations may be under jeopardy if they cannot manage expenses effectively. Altman disclosed in a post that their high-demand Pro subscription is not generating profits because “user engagement exceeded our projections.”

“I personally set the pricing, thinking it would yield a profit,” Altman admitted, refraining from providing further insight on the rationale behind this pricing strategy or his involvement in it. Reports indicate that OpenAI could incur losses nearing $5 billion by the end of 2024, despite bringing in nearly $4 billion in revenue.

Insane fact: we’re currently operating at a loss with OpenAI Pro subscriptions!

Usage has been much higher than we anticipated.

— Sam Altman (@sama) January 6, 2025

Altman didn’t elaborate on the financial health of the company in his blog but did touch on the uncertainties surrounding his (temporary) dismissal last November. He reflected, “That entire episode was a significant governance failure involving well-intentioned individuals, myself included. In retrospect, I wish I had acted differently, and I hope to be considered a more thoughtful leader today than I was a year ago. Effective governance demands considerable trust and credibility. I value how so many individuals collaborated to create a stronger governance framework for OpenAI that allows us to work towards the goal of making AGI beneficial for all of humanity.”

Since his return to OpenAI, Altman has established a firmer grip on the organization, regaining authority from the board and guiding the company towards a more profitable, for-profit business model, moving away from its initial nonprofit framework.