OPEN AI vs the world
OpenAI was originally focused on developing AI and machine learning tools for video games and other recreational purposes. Less than a year after its official founding on Dec. 11, 2015, it released its first AI offering: an open source toolkit for developing reinforcement learning (RI) algorithms called OpenAI Gym. Over the next two years, OpenAI focused on more general AI development and AI research.
Microsoft's latest investment in OpenAI extends to Bing, its search engine. The company is using the same technology developed for ChatGPT to produce an AI-infused version of Bing. Concurrently, AI-based features have also been added to Microsoft's Edge browser, and ChatGPT functionality is being added to Microsoft 365 products such as Outlook and Teams.
Despite all these rapid advancements, OpenAI has not been immune to criticism, both in the world of tech and beyond. The company's shift from "nonprofit" to "capped profit" status in 2019 fueled criticism that its commitment to working with others on building "safe and beneficial" general artificial intelligence had become a profit-driven "AI arms race" to produce the most advanced AI technology on the market. Simultaneously, others have expressed concerns about OpenAI's growing back of transparency into how its groundbreaking products are being developed, given its commitment to developing open source software.
In the 1990s, Bill Gates released a memo that described the internet as a "tidal wave" that would have a large impact on Microsoft. While referencing this memo, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently noted the similarities between internet and AI growth. Furthermore, Microsoft is aiming to use these tools to support innovation.
In parallel with its anticipated growth, OpenAI hosted its first ever developer conference in November 2023. At the event, OpenAI unveiled GPT-4 Turbo, a language model with a significantly larger context window than its predecessors, a cheaper API pricing model and a later training data cut. OpenAI also debuted customizable GPTs, a “Copyright Shield” that will protect customers from legal action, and GPT store where users can monetize and access custom GPTs.
