Sam Altman says OpenAI is developing AI that can discover new science on its own

In a bold announcement, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, revealed the company’s ambitious plan to create a fully autonomous AI researcher by 2028. This initiative aims to significantly speed up scientific discoveries and move closer to the goal of superintelligence. During a recent live-stream event, Altman emphasized the transformative potential of AI capable of independently uncovering new scientific knowledge. He stated, "For the long-term quality of life and societal improvements, AI that can autonomously discover new science or accelerate human discovery will be crucial. This is something we’re deeply focused on." OpenAI is targeting the development of an artificial research assistant by September 2026, with the ultimate goal of a comprehensive researcher by 2028. Jakub Pachocki, Chief Scientist at OpenAI, also shared insights during the live-stream, predicting that deep learning systems might achieve superintelligence in less than a decade. The proposed AI research assistant is expected to handle intricate research tasks without human intervention, potentially leading to significant advancements across various scientific and technological fields. This announcement coincided with OpenAI's transition from a non-profit model to a public benefit corporation, a move aimed at facilitating capital acquisition. Despite this shift, the non-profit entity will retain approximately $130 billion in stakes within the newly formed corporation. Interestingly, Altman will not hold any stake in the public benefit corporation, while Microsoft will possess about 27%, equating to around $135 billion. Moreover, under a new agreement, Microsoft will maintain access to OpenAI’s AI models until 2032, regardless of whether independent evaluations confirm that OpenAI has achieved artificial general intelligence (AGI) with its technologies. Previously, access was limited to the achievement of AGI or until 2030. In addition, OpenAI has committed to purchasing an extra $250 billion worth of Microsoft Azure services, although Microsoft will no longer have the first right of refusal to serve as OpenAI's computing partner. Both companies confirmed that a revenue-sharing agreement will remain in place until an expert panel validates the achievement of AGI, with Microsoft set to receive 20% of OpenAI's revenues, according to reports from Bloomberg. This restructuring is anticipated to enhance OpenAI's ability to raise the necessary capital, which has been challenging due to its previous corporate structure. As OpenAI competes against major players like Meta, Google, and Anthropic in the AI sector, the need for additional funding and computing resources is more pressing than ever in the race towards superintelligence.