This week, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, touched down in India, one of the stops on his six-nation tour. His visit, however, is not just sightseeing – it includes a meeting with India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. Altman’s tour also encompasses Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, and South Korea.
During an interview with The Economic Times, Altman took note of India’s growing fascination with ChatGPT, OpenAI’s advanced AI model. He commended India for being an early adopter of the model, revealing the widespread enthusiasm from its users.
While there are no immediate plans to start developing the GPT-5 model, Altman emphasized OpenAI’s ongoing commitment to refining ChatGPT. In response to concerns about the AI model’s potential biases and “hallucinations”, Altman said they are making strides towards giving users more control over their interactions with ChatGPT.
Altman did not shy away from revealing his anxiety about AI. He expressed a hypothetical fear that, despite OpenAI’s best intentions, the launch of ChatGPT could have set off an unanticipated, complex issue within the system.
Given these concerns, Altman reiterated the urgent need for a robust regulation framework for AI. He urged for a government or industry-led initiative to manage the existential risks and protect the integrity of artificial intelligence.
India’s Tech Progress Impresses Altman
In anticipation of his meeting with PM Modi, the OpenAI head praised India’s impressive strides in technology and national assets. He advised the government to explore ways to integrate advanced technologies like ChatGPT into various sectors, envisioning a future where Language-Learning Models (LLMs) significantly enhance government services.
Before meeting Modi, Altman also connected with India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant. Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, commended Altman on the success of ChatGPT and discussed the potential of generative artificial intelligence in boosting the quality of life in emerging economies.
Altman sees the use of AI like ChatGPT as an opportunity for India to lead in the global discourse on AI regulation.
Future Plans for ChatGPT: National AI Efforts and Multilingual Support
During the interview, Altman discussed his ambition to expand ChatGPT’s language capacity. He acknowledged the challenges in catering to local languages, but showed optimism for future improvements. Altman also called for nationally funded AI initiatives, hoping that India could one day develop its own large language model.
Altman’s visit to India is a testament to the nation’s growing influence in the global tech landscape and its potential role in shaping the future of AI.
