OpenAI’s New o1 Model: Game-Changer or Overhyped? (And 3 quick things.)

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

In this episode of AI-Curious, here's your quick, bite-sized weekly roundup of the latest developments in artificial intelligence, starting with OpenAI’s newest model, the bizarrely-named “o1.” Is it a groundbreaking advancement or just another step in AI’s evolution? We explore both sides, offering a balanced look at the bullish and skeptical takes on the model.

Key Topics:

•[00:00] - Introduction to OpenAI’s o1 Model

A quick primer on OpenAI’s “o1” model, highlighting its unique approach to problem-solving and how it compares to previous models like ChatGPT.

•[01:00] - Bullish Take on o1’s Performance

How o1 outperformed ChatGPT-4 in key benchmarks, including PhD-level science questions, coding, and even scoring an IQ of 120. There’s also the example where o1 developed a 200-year plan to Terraform Mars.

•[02:00] - The skeptical take

On the flip side, we explore skepticism from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who admits the model is still flawed. AI expert Gary Marcus also critiques o1’s limitations, noting its failure in tasks like playing chess.

•[03:00] - Ethan Mollick’s Middle Ground

We take a closer look at Ethan Mollick’s perspective, where he acknowledges o1’s strength in handling complex work tasks but notes that most people might not find it useful for everyday applications.

•[04:00] - 3 Quick Things:

•[04:00] - The White House’s new AI infrastructure task force and its role in managing AI’s growing energy consumption, which could account for 17% of U.S. electricity demand by 2030.

•[05:00] - Fei-Fei Li’s $230 million spatial AI startup, World Labs, and how it’s contributing to the future of humanoid robots.

•[06:00] - The legacy of James Earl Jones and how AI voice cloning could preserve iconic voices for the future.

Mars terraform AI prompt:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JTF411tMmicqEe6HJ9OnhRNswTq8qIjcZUzh_GhppPM/edit
Futurism's article on James Earl Jones:
https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-earl-jones-voice-rights-ai
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