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In the realm of technological innovation, few concepts capture the imagination quite like Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). It's the holy grail of AI development—the elusive goal of creating a machine that can match or even surpass human intelligence across a wide range of tasks. For Sam Altman, the renowned entrepreneur and investor, AGI represents not just a technological milestone, but a paradigm shift in the way we think about revenue generation.
In a candid conversation, Altman shared insights into his unorthodox approach to revenue generation for AGI-focused ventures. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Altman's stance is refreshingly unconventional: no current plans for revenue, no clear roadmap for monetization, and a soft promise to investors that AGI itself will pave the way to financial returns.
"We have no current plans to make revenue. We have no idea how we may one day generate revenue. We have made a soft promise to investors that once we've built this sort of generally intelligent system, basically we will ask it to figure out a way to generate an investment return for you."
"It sounds like an episode of Silicon Valley," Altman quips, acknowledging the inherent skepticism surrounding his approach. Yet, beneath the humor lies a profound belief in the transformative potential of AGI. Altman envisions a future where intelligent systems not only generate investment returns but also unlock unprecedented value for humanity as a whole.
The path to AGI is fraught with uncertainty, and Altman readily admits that there are few precedents to guide his vision. "There's just no metrics for them to rely on here," he acknowledges, referring to the challenges of fundraising for AGI-focused projects. Yet, Altman remains undeterred, embracing the ambiguity and complexity of the journey ahead.
"If we have to take 1,000th of 1% of the value that we create and return it to investors and then figure out how to share the rest equally among the world, that feels OK."
For Altman, the promise of AGI transcends traditional notions of profit and revenue. It's about harnessing the power of technology to solve humanity's most pressing challenges and unlock new frontiers of innovation. While the path may be unconventional and the destination uncertain, Altman's unwavering conviction serves as a guiding light in the world of AGI, where the possibilities are limitless and the stakes are high.
"Yeah, it's an odd fundraising conversation. I will tell you that."
Listen to him: