An indiscretion published by The Verge claimed that OpenAI is planning a December launch of a next-generation language model, potentially dubbed Orion or GPT-5. The site suggested that this model, a hundred times more powerful than GPT-4, would initially be offered only to selected commercial partners before being made more widely available.
True or not true?
OpenAI partner Microsoft could benefit from early access to Orion as early as November via its Azure platform. A privilege that would position the Redmond firm ahead of its competitors in the integration of this language model, which some experts describe as the “grail” – we are talking about artificial general intelligence, similar to that of humans. Microsoft and OpenAI have signed a strategic partnership.
The information, however, provoked a quick and strong reaction from Sam Altman. On X (formerly Twitter), the CEO of OpenAI condemned the article by calling it “ uncontrollable fake news “. A statement that was certainly impactful, but which did not clarify any details of the news, leaving room for further speculation.
The possible launch of this language model would take place in an already turbulent context for OpenAI. In the space of just two years, the company has experienced exponential growth and a notable transformation, marked by massive fundraising, a restructuring into a for-profit company, but also by controversies and executive departures. The year 2023, in particular, has seen a series of spectacular events.
In November 2023, OpenAI’s board of directors ousted Sam Altman from his position, citing a lack of transparency toward the board and growing distrust in his ability to lead the company. This dismissal, however, was short-lived: three days later, Microsoft hired Altman and several former OpenAI executives to lead an advanced AI research project… before the same Altman returned to the helm of OpenAI, reinstated by the board of directors.
In this climate of constant upheaval, communication around OpenAI projects remains controversial. Sam Altman’s virulent statement is part of a trend among some tech executives, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, to use social networks to respond directly to leaks and press articles. However, this release has not dispelled uncertainty: the scale and timing of future language model launches remains unclear.
An OpenAI spokesperson nevertheless indicated that no model named Orion was planned for this year, but that “ other technological advances » would indeed see the light of day. A statement that does not rule out the possibility of a more powerful model or a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, even if the details remain to be confirmed.
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