Mumbai, India – Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently stirred up controversy with his bleak outlook on the feasibility of competing with his company’s AI models, specifically citing a budget under $10 million as insufficient. Altman’s comments came during a 2023 interview with The Economic Times where he stated, “It’s totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models.” This assertion has not gone unnoticed and has attracted sharp criticism from notable figures in the tech industry.
Among the critics is Anupam Mittal, the founder of People Group and a judge on “Shark Tank India,” who took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to voice his discontent. Mittal highlighted Altman’s remarks towards India, emphasizing the notion that despite current shortcomings, India’s moment of technological advancement is imminent. He expressed his reaction by saying, “While India hasn’t done it yet, am glad somebody made him less smug. Apna time bhi aayega,” which translates to “Our time will also come.”
Mittal’s post ignited a flurry of reactions from the online community, leading to a robust dialogue about the potential and future of AI development in India. Some users questioned Altman’s tone and intent, suggesting he may not have been as dismissive as interpreted. One user commented, “He did not say it like that. He joked about it. You know this very well but playing the nationalist card,” to which Mittal responded affirming Altman’s seriousness.
Others discussed the inherent strengths and weaknesses highlighted by Altman, pointing out the U.S.’s intellectual prowess alongside what Mittal described as their “arrogance…the kink in their armor.” This statement underscores a broader discussion about cultural attitudes influencing international tech development landscapes.
Another user argued that India might not innovate original models but could replicate and produce cost-effective versions. Mittal confidently countered, declaring his belief in India’s capabilities to develop multiple foundational models by year’s end. He boldly stated, “Willing to bet that we will have multiple foundational models before the end of the year.”
Amidst the discourse, one user challenged Mittal to financially back the development of an Indian LLM (large language model), prompting a straightforward confirmation from Mittal who replied, “On it.”
The conversation sparked by Altman’s comment and Mittal’s response highlights a significant discussion in the global tech community regarding the accessibility, innovation capabilities, and competitive dynamics of AI development. It reflects larger narratives about technological independence, regional innovation capabilities, and the global distribution of knowledge and resources in the tech industry.
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