ChatGPT maker OpenAI CTO makes this big prediction on AI and the jobs it may make disappear

OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, has revealed that the next generation of ChatGPT will possess "PhD-level intelligence" for specific tasks. This advancement is expected to launch in approximately a year and a half, likely in late 2025 or early 2026.

Speaking at her alma mater, Dartmouth Engineering, Murati outlined the rapid progression of AI capabilities. "If you look at the trajectory of improvement, systems like GPT-3 were maybe toddler-level intelligence," she explained. "And then systems like GPT-4 are more like smart high-schooler intelligence. And then, in the next couple of years, we're looking at PhD intelligence for specific tasks."

Next-gen ChatGPT will “affect everything”This leap in AI capabilities could have far-reaching implications across various industries. Murati believes AI's impact will "affect everything" in terms of cognitive work and labour. She noted that while some jobs may be affected, particularly in creative fields, AI could also democratise creativity by lowering barriers.

"It's much easier to direct a smarter system by telling it, okay, just don't do these things," Murati said, addressing concerns about AI safety and control. She emphasised that intelligence and safety go hand in hand, comparing it to training a smarter dog versus a less intelligent one.

The OpenAI CTO also touched on the potential for future AI systems to connect to the internet, interact with each other, and collaborate seamlessly with humans. However, she stressed the importance of building safety measures alongside technological advancements.

"In terms of safety, security, the societal impacts of this work, I think these things are not an afterthought," Murati stated. "You kind of have to build them alongside the technology and actually in a deeply embedded way to get it right."

While the news of more advanced AI may excite some, it also raises questions about potential risks and societal impacts. Murati acknowledged that "it is not possible to have zero risks" with AI technology, calling for shared responsibility among developers, users, civil society, and governments.