OpenAIs Vision ChatGPT As Your All Knowing Entity
Leaked Memo Unveils OpenAIs Grand Design
An internal OpenAI document surfaced during the discovery process for an antitrust trial involving Google. The revelations within this document about OpenAI's plans for ChatGPT are quite illuminating and potentially disquieting depending on one's perspective.
According to a report by The Verge, the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to address Google's alleged monopoly brought to light an OpenAI memo. This memo details OpenAI's strategy to make ChatGPT an integral part of users' lives, functioning as an entity that would understand them and serve as their primary interface to the internet.
The Super Assistant A Glimpse into the Future
The heavily redacted document, dated at the end of 2024, outlines a clear timeline. It states that in the first half of the following year, OpenAI would begin evolving ChatGPT into a super assistant. This assistant, according to the memo, is envisioned as one that knows the user, understands their interests, and can help with any task a smart, trustworthy, and emotionally intelligent person with a computer could perform.
Interestingly, the first half of 2025 referenced in the document has now largely passed. It is fair to say that a growing number of individuals have indeed started to rely on ChatGPT for various purposes. However, ChatGPT has not yet achieved the full range of capabilities envisioned by OpenAI's leadership.
Personalized and Omnipresent The Entity Concept
The memo explains that this super assistant would be an intelligent entity possessing T shaped skills. This means it would have the ability to cover a broad range of topics while also offering in depth expertise in specific areas.
The memo further clarifies why it is termed an entity: because it is personalized to the user and accessible anywhere the user goes. This includes chatgpt.com, OpenAI's native apps, phone, email, or even third party surfaces like Siri. Its T shaped nature comes from its broad skills for tedious daily tasks combined with deep expertise for complex tasks that most people find impossible, with coding mentioned as a starting point.
Redefining Daily Tasks Through AI Reliance
This brings us to the core idea of reliance. OpenAI's memo positions the ChatGPT super assistant entity as being all about making life easier. It aims to achieve this by taking over online tasks that people currently manage themselves. Examples cited include answering questions, finding a home, contacting a lawyer, joining a gym, planning vacations, buying gifts, managing calendars, keeping track of to dos, and sending emails.
Navigating Current AI Hurdles and Limitations
For those familiar with the current limitations of artificial intelligence, the idea of fully relying on ChatGPT or any other chatbot to execute tasks involving financial decisions currently remains far fetched. Despite significant advancements since its launch, ChatGPT and its competitors still face challenges. For instance, they may not reliably tell time and are known for a tendency towards making stuff up or hallucinating. There are even concerns about AI models being negatively affected by their own generated content.
The Stakes for OpenAIs Ambitious Vision
This leaked memo therefore highlights clear stakes for OpenAI. To achieve its ambitious vision, the company must either elevate ChatGPTs capabilities to the level described or persuade users that the convenience offered outweighs its current weaknesses.
Further Insights into OpenAIs Plans
For those interested in more about OpenAIs ambitious projects, a related piece discusses what the company's top secret AI gadget allegedly looks like.
