The AI world is buzzing with anticipation for the next leap forward, and whispers of GPT-5. It has reached a fever pitch. While OpenAI remains tight-lipped about concrete release dates. In a recent remarks from Microsoft’s AI Chief, Mustafa Suleyman, offer tantalizing clues about what to expect, and when.
GPT-6, Not GPT-5, Will Help in a New Era of AI:
In interview with AI investor Seth Rosenberg, Suleyman suggested that achieving true AI autonomy the ability to follow complex instructions and adapt to novel situations is still a couple of years away. Intriguingly, he pointed not to GPT-5, but to “GPT-6-scale models” as the true game-changer.
“I think that’s going to be not one but two orders of magnitude more computation of training the models,” Suleyman stated. “So, not GPT-5 but more like GPT-6-scale models. I think we’re talking about two years before we have systems that can really take action.”
This comment has ignited speculation about a two-step evolution. With GPT-5 potentially arriving sooner as a stepping stone to the more revolutionary GPT-6.
Discrepancies and Hints: Deciphering the Timeline:
Suleyman’s timeline appears to diverge slightly from earlier hints dropped by OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. Murati, while avoiding explicit mention of “GPT-5”, described a rapid progression in AI capabilities.
“If you look at the trajectory of improvement, systems like GPT-3 were maybe toddler-level intelligence,” Murati 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 Ph.D. intelligence for specific tasks.”
Whether both are referring to the same milestone, simply using different terminology, remains unclear. It’s possible that GPT-5 represents a significant near-term upgrade. While GPT-6 marks a more fundamental shift in AI capabilities, demanding significantly more development time.
Beyond GPT-5: Redefining "Autonomous":
Suleyman’s vision for the future of AI extends beyond mere performance improvements. He expressed caution about the pursuit of “fully autonomous” AI, calling it “quite dangerous.”
“If you have an agent that can formulate its own plans, come up with its goals, acquire its own resources just objectively speaking, that’s going to be potentially risky than not,” Suleyman warned.
Instead, he envisions a future of “narrow lanes of autonomy,”. where AI agents operate within tightly defined boundaries, tackling specific tasks with advanced reasoning and planning skills. Suleyman sees a key role for regulation in ensuring responsible development within these controlled environments.
OpenAI's Evolving Focus:
While GPT-5 remains shrouded in mystery. OpenAI’s recent moves suggest a focus on expanding the GPT ecosystem and exploring multimodal applications. The integration of GPT into Apple Intelligence. The development of low-latency voice chat, and a recent acquisition hinting at desktop integration all point to a company broadening its boundaries beyond purely textual AI.
Conclusion: The Future is Closer Than We Think:
The exact timeline for GPT-5 remains a mystery, but one thing is certain: the AI field is on the verge of a dramatic transformation. Whether it arrives this year or next, GPT-5 promises to be a significant step forward, with its successor, GPT-6, potentially redefining the very nature of AI as we know it. The future is coming, and it’s powered by AI.