Can UAE become a leader in rapidly-evolving AI sector? Let’s hear OpenAI chief Sam Altman

OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman delivered a notable speech at the ongoing World Government Summit in Dubai, calling artificial intelligence the “most exciting frontier” he could possibly imagine. He reflected on the rise of ChatGPT and AI, overall.

The entrepreneur said the technology sector was only scratching the surface of what could be accomplished through generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs). AI is expected to “unlock a future that is difficult for me to imagine in terms of how good it will be,” he added.

Need for a global AI watchdog system

Altman tried to compare the current technology to the first cell phone humans developed, noting that the black and white screen could only display numbers and “didn’t do much, but there was enough in that technology.” Then it took many decades for the current iPhones.

He highlighted that AI needs a massive amount of work in order to reach its true potential, like the early iterations of mobile phones. “You have to be patient, give us some time … Imagine a world where everyone gets a great personal tutor, great personalised medical advice.”

The chief executive also emphasised the need for a global AI watchdog system to monitor developments concerning the most powerful AI systems. It can decide the sort of auditing and safety measures required before the deployment of a superintelligence system.

Can UAE play a central role in developing safe AI?

UAE’s Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Omar Al Olama, opened the Summit discussions with Altman. He joked about the speculation that OpenAI was trying to convince investors and governments to raise trillions of dollars.

Sam Altman previously visited the Emirates in 2023 for an event hosted by Hub71, the government-backed start-up ecosystem. He spoke of his optimism that the region could play a central role in developing safe artificial intelligence.

One year on, the evolving technology has reshaped the industry and created hope – besides fear – over the consequences of AI implementation. At the Summit in Dubai, the OpenAI chief expressed optimism about the future but acknowledged the need to be careful.

Judy, Sua, Scarlett: AI girlfriends are here

The creators of companion chatbots often tout them as a public good: to combat the loneliness epidemic. But they can create unhealthy attachments and affect gender roles, reported The Guardian, highlighting a recent Quartz report on the issue.

The Quartz headline noted: “AI girlfriend bots are already flooding OpenAI’s GPT store,” where paid ChatGPT users can buy and sell customised chatbots and the offerings include a large selection of digital companions such as Judy and Secret Girlfriend Sua.

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