‘I feel useless': ChatGPT-5 is so smart, it has spooked Sam Altman, the man who started the AI boom
is on the verge of releasing
GPT-5
, the most powerful model it has ever built. But its CEO,
Sam Altman
, isn't celebrating just yet. Instead, he's sounding the alarm.
In a revealing podcast appearance on This Past Weekend with Theo Von, Altman admitted that testing the model left him shaken. 'It feels very fast,' he said. 'There are moments in the history of science, where you have a group of scientists look at their creation and just say, you know: 'What have we done?''
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Finance
Data Science
MBA
others
Data Analytics
Management
Cybersecurity
Public Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Product Management
Digital Marketing
Data Science
MCA
PGDM
Technology
CXO
Project Management
Others
Healthcare
Operations Management
healthcare
Leadership
Design Thinking
Degree
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
9 Months
IIM Calcutta
SEPO - IIMC CFO India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
7 Months
S P Jain Institute of Management and Research
CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
His words weren't about performance metrics. They were about consequences.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Are you ready to conquer a planet?
planetcapture.io
Undo
'What have we done?': Sam Altman
Altman compared the development of GPT-5 to the Manhattan Project — the World War II effort that led to the first atomic bomb. The message was clear: speed and capability are growing faster than our ability to think through what they actually mean.
He continued, 'Maybe it's great, maybe it's bad—but what have we done?'
Live Events
This wasn't just about AI as a tool. Altman was questioning whether humanity is moving so fast that it can no longer understand — or control — what it builds. 'It feels like there are no adults in the room,' he added, suggesting that regulation is far behind the pace of innovation.
A big leap from ChatGPT-4
Exact specs for GPT-5 are still under wraps, but reports suggest significant leaps over GPT-4: better multi-step reasoning, longer memory, and sharper multimodal capabilities. Altman himself didn't hold back about the previous version, saying, 'GPT-4 is the dumbest model any of you will ever have to use again, by a lot.'
For many users, GPT-4 was already advanced. If GPT-5 lives up to the internal hype, it could change how people work, create, and think.
In another recent conversation, Altman described a moment where GPT-5 answered a complex question he couldn't solve himself. 'I felt like useless relative to the AI,' he admitted. 'It was really hard, but the AI just did it like that.'
AGI: The endgame or a marketing hook?
OpenAI's long-term goal has always been
Artificial General Intelligence
(AGI). That's AI capable of understanding and reasoning across almost any task — human-like intelligence.
Altman once downplayed its arrival, suggesting it would 'whoosh by with surprisingly little societal impact.' Now, he's sounding far less sure. If GPT-5 is a real step toward AGI, the absence of a global framework to govern it could be dangerous.
AGI remains loosely defined. Some firms treat it as a technical milestone. Others see it as a $100 billion opportunity, as
Microsoft
's partnership contract with OpenAI implies. Either way, the next model may blur the line between AI that helps and AI that acts.
Internal tensions and external pressure
OpenAI isn't just facing ethical dilemmas. It's also under financial pressure.
Investors are pushing for the firm to transition into a for-profit entity by the end of the year. Microsoft, which has invested $13.5 billion in OpenAI, reportedly wants more control. There are whispers that OpenAI could declare AGI early in order to exit its agreement with Microsoft — a move that would shift the power balance in the AI sector dramatically.
Microsoft insiders have reportedly described their wait-and-watch approach as the 'nuclear option.' In response, OpenAI is said to be prepared to go to court, accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive behaviour. One rumoured trigger could be the release of an AI coding agent so capable it surpasses a human programmer — something GPT-5 might be edging towards.
Altman, meanwhile, has tried to lower expectations about rollout glitches. Posting on X, he said, 'We have a ton of stuff to launch over the next couple of months — new models, products, features, and more. Please bear with us through some probable hiccups and capacity crunches.'
Fraudsters are already using AI to exploit public systems
While researchers and CEOs debate long-term AI impacts, one threat is already here: fraud.
Haywood Talcove, CEO of the Government Group at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, works with over 9,000 public agencies. He says the
AI fraud crisis
is not approaching — it's already happening.
'Every week, AI-generated fraud is siphoning millions from public benefit systems, disaster relief funds, and unemployment programmes,' he warned. 'Criminal networks are using
deepfakes
,
synthetic identities
, and large language models to outpace outdated fraud defences — and they're winning.'
During the pandemic, fraudsters exploited weaknesses to steal hundreds of billions in unemployment benefits. That trend has only accelerated. Today's tools are more advanced and automated, capable of filing tens of thousands of fake claims in a day.
Talcove believes the AI arms race between criminals and institutions is widening. 'We may soon recognise a similar principle for AI that I call 'Altman's Law': every 180 days,
AI capabilities
double.'
His call to action is blunt. 'Right now, criminals are using it better than we are. Until that changes, our most vulnerable systems and the people who depend on them will remain exposed.'
Not everyone is convinced by Altman's remarks. Some see them as clever marketing. But his past record and unfiltered tone suggest genuine concern.
GPT-5 might be OpenAI's most ambitious release yet. It could also be a signpost for the world to stop, look around, and ask itself what kind of intelligence it really wants to build — and how much control it's willing to give up.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
7 minutes ago
- First Post
With H-1B curbs, more Indians turn to US investment visa route with record applicants this year
Faced with tighter rules on student and H-1B visas under the Trump administration, more Indian nationals are now opting for US investment visas as a safer and faster route to permanent residency, says report. Interest in the EB-5 visa programme has surged in recent months. read more With H-1B curbs, more Indians turn to US investment visa route with record applicants this year. Image for Representation. With tougher restrictions on student and H-1B visas under the Trump administration, a growing number of Indian nationals are now turning to US investment visas as a more reliable path to permanent residency, The Indian Express reported. One such option is the existing EB-5 visa programme, which offers a green card to individuals who invest at least $800,000 in job-creating projects in the US. This programme is set to be replaced by a new $5 million residency visa known as the 'Gold Card', announced by President Donald Trump in February. Though the Gold Card programme is yet to launch formally, interest has already surged. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA), Indian interest in the EB-5 visa has significantly increased since April 2024. Data from the United States Immigration Fund (USIF), which operates EB-5 regional centres, supports this trend. 'In the first four months of FY2025 (October 2024 to January 2025), Indian applicants filed more than 1,200 I-526E petitions across reserved categories — more than any prior full year,' said Nicholas Mastroianni III, president and CMO of USIF. Immigration experts say a key reason for this shift is the backlog in traditional visa categories. With over 11 million immigration applications currently pending, many see EB-5 as the fastest and most assured route to a green card. Data from Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the national association representing the EB-5 industry, shows that 1,428 EB-5 visas were issued to Indians in FY2024, up from 815 the previous year. Until 2017, annual issuances rarely crossed 200. The EB-5 programme, introduced by the US Congress in 1992, offers a path to permanent residency for investors, their spouses, and children under 21, in exchange for creating jobs in the US economy. In 2022, reforms were introduced to add flexibility and improve scrutiny over funding sources, which experts say boosted confidence among wealthy Indian applicants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Between October 2024 and March 2025 alone, 649 Indians were granted EB-5 visas through consular processing, a sign that a wave of applications from the previous fiscal year has now matured. The route is also becoming more popular among those already in the US on student or work visas. 'Students and individuals on H-1B visas currently represent the primary group seeking lawful means to remain in the US with the ability to work,' said Sukanya Raman, country head of immigration law firm Davies & Associates, LLC. She added that Indian nationals already in the US who apply through EB-5 now receive automatic work and travel permits within 3–6 months of filing their I-526E petition, benefits that remain valid until their green card is approved.
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
New Zealand government proposes replacing NCEA with new national qualifications system
The New Zealand government announced Monday, August 4, it will propose replacing the current National Certificate of Educational Achievement ( NCEA ) with a new qualification system featuring traditional letter grades and mandatory core subjects. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled the proposal during a press conference in Auckland, citing concerns that the current system fails to meet student and employer needs. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing MCA Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Design Thinking Leadership Product Management Data Science Management Data Analytics Public Policy Degree Data Science healthcare others MBA Finance CXO PGDM Others Project Management Operations Management Healthcare Technology Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Also read: New Zealand aims to double international education market by 2034 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Senior Living Homes in Kampung Baru May Surprise You Senior Living | Search Ads Undo "We want every New Zealander to reach their full potential and contribute to a thriving economy, and that starts with our students," Luxon said. "The evidence shows NCEA is not consistent and can be hard to navigate." Proposed NCEA replacement features traditional grading system The proposed changes would eliminate NCEA Level 1 and replace NCEA Levels 2 and 3 with two new qualifications: the New Zealand Certificate of Education for Year 12 students and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education for Year 13 students. Under the new system, students would be required to take five subjects and pass at least four to earn each certificate. Assessments would use traditional letter grades (A, B, C, D, E) with scores marked out of 100. Live Events The proposal includes mandatory English and mathematics courses for Year 11 students, who would also complete a foundation award test in numeracy and literacy. New Zealand Education Reform emphasizes vocational training pathways Stanford said the government would collaborate with industry partners to develop enhanced vocational training programs aligned with career pathways. "While NCEA was designed to be flexible, for many students that flexibility has encouraged a focus on simply attaining the qualification. This has come at the cost of developing the critical skills and knowledge they need for clear pathways into future study, training or employment," Stanford said. Also read: New Zealand to expand work hours for international students along with these key changes from November 202 The new qualification system would be supported by a national curriculum for Years 9-13 that specifies learning objectives and timing for each subject. Political parties divided on NCEA abolition proposal Political parties expressed mixed reactions to the NCEA replacement proposal. ACT Leader David Seymour endorsed the changes, noting New Zealand's declining performance in international education rankings. "Over the time that the NCEA has been in place, New Zealand high school students have fallen badly in the OECD 's PISA study," Seymour said. "In the early 2000s when NCEA was introduced, New Zealand was often in the top five. Today we are 23rd for maths." Labour education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime criticized the proposal's timeline and consultation process. "Previous rushed overhauls have led to students being the guinea pigs for failed change, like national standards, so we must get this right. Any change must be done with proper sector consultation and be based on evidence that it will lead to better outcomes for all students," Prime said. Greens education spokesperson Lawrence Xu-Nan opposed the proposal, arguing it represented a regression from student-centered learning approaches. "Today's announcement is another classic case of the Government favouring one-size-fits-all approaches. Our education system is too important to be reduced to a single, rigid framework that will leave many behind," Xu-Nan said. Education sector organizations react to New Zealand qualification changes Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) president Chris Abercrombie acknowledged both strengths and weaknesses in the current NCEA system. "As a standards-based assessment system that is based on the principle that all students should have opportunities to succeed, be rewarded for what they know, and can demonstrate and fulfil their potential, the NCEA has clear advantages over the previous qualification system, which had a built-in failure rate," Abercrombie said. Also read: New Zealand ends open-plan classroom construction after schools report noise and behavior management issue Universities New Zealand expressed cautious support for the proposed changes while reserving final judgment pending additional details. "We have previously raised concerns that the flexibility of NCEA has led to a focus on simply gaining credits rather than developing deep knowledge and critical thinking needed for students to succeed at a university level," said Universities NZ chief executive Chris Whelan. "This proposal appears to address those concerns." Business groups support New Zealand education system overhaul Industry organizations welcomed the government's focus on aligning New Zealand education with workforce needs. BusinessNZ chief executive Katherine Rich said the current system fails to provide adequate guidance for students entering various career paths. "Whether a school-leaver is heading on to university, an apprenticeship, or directly into work, the education system must offer transparent, reliable guidance to build confidence and inform whatever choice they're making," Rich said. Hospitality NZ chief executive Steve Armitage praised the government's commitment to industry collaboration on vocational programs. NCEA critics cite international competitiveness concerns Crimson Education co-founder Jamie Beaton criticized the current NCEA system during a recent television appearance, arguing it fails to prepare students for international competition. "To be honest, it's rough. NCEA is basically not a rigorous curriculum at all, and students graduating with it are often two years behind in core subjects like maths, science as well," Beaton said. Implementation timeline for New Zealand education changes The government plans to phase in the new qualification system over several years. The new national curriculum would begin in 2026, followed by the Foundational Skills Award in 2028. The new certificates would launch in 2029 for Year 12 and 2030 for Year 13. Also read: New Zealand's $100 million purse for better maths education in schools During the transition period, students would be assessed under either the current NCEA system or the new framework. Public consultation on the proposal will remain open until September 15, with final decisions expected before year-end. Stanford noted that New Zealand education reforms are already underway at primary and intermediate levels, including mandatory structured literacy and mathematics programs, classroom cell phone bans, and investments in learning support resources.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
PM Modi defiant as Trump steps up pressure on India's Russia oil purchases
Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a defiant tone in the face of US President Donald Trump 's tariff threats, urging the nation to buy local goods as his administration signaled it would continue buying Russian oil. Modi's government hasn't given India's oil refiners instructions to stop buying Russian oil, and no decision has been taken on whether to halt the purchases, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Both state-run and private refiners are allowed to buy from preferred sources, and crude purchases remain a commercial decision, several of the people said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Others Data Science CXO Management Technology Finance healthcare Public Policy Artificial Intelligence MBA Data Analytics Healthcare Digital Marketing Product Management Project Management others Operations Management Leadership Design Thinking Degree Data Science Cybersecurity MCA PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Over the weekend, Modi underscored the importance of shielding India's economic interests during uncertain global conditions. The comments came just days after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the US. The White House is also threatening more action if India continues Russian oil purchases . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Ilocos Norte - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape 'The world economy is going through many apprehensions — there is an atmosphere of instability,' Modi said at a rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. 'Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.' India has become one of Trump's top targets as he looks to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine. The US president lashed out at India last week, criticizing it for joining the BRICS grouping of developing countries and maintaining close ties with Russia, saying 'they can take their dead economies down together.' Live Events The rebuke marked a stunning shift in tone for the US, which for years had overlooked India's close historical ties with Russia as it courted the nation as a counterweight in Asia to China. Now, Trump appears willing to undo that strategy to gain leverage against Putin, who has resisted the US president's efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine. 'Get Real' Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, on Sunday accused India of imposing 'massive' tariffs on American goods and 'cheating' the US immigration system in addition to purchasing about as much Russian oil as China. 'President Trump, he wants a tremendous relationship and has had always a tremendous relationship with India and the prime minister,' Miller said. 'But we need to get real about dealing with the financing of this war.' 'So, President Trump, all options are on the table to deal diplomatically, financially and otherwise with the ongoing war in Ukraine, so we can achieve peace,' Miller added. Trump last week told reporters he 'heard' India would no longer be buying oil from Russia, calling it 'a good step.' Bloomberg reported last week that refiners were told to come up with plans for buying non-Russian crude, but one of the people said the instruction amounted to scenario planning in case Russian crude were to become unavailable. The New York Times reported Saturday that India would keep buying Russian crude despite a threat of penalties from Trump, citing two senior Indian officials it didn't identify. An Oil Ministry spokesperson didn't reply to messages from Bloomberg seeking comment outside of regular business hours. India's refiners have been singled out by the European Union and the US for supporting Moscow during its war in Ukraine with the oil purchases. It has become the world's biggest buyer of Russian seaborne exports of crude, soaking up discounted barrels and ramping up its purchases from almost zero to about one-third of its imports. Although China is the primary economic and diplomatic backer of Russia, Trump's leverage against the world's second-biggest economy is limited due to Beijing's control of rare-earth magnets the US needs to make high-tech goods. The US and China have held talks in recent months aimed at stabilizing the relationship after they both hiked tariffs on each other's goods well beyond 100% earlier this year. 'Time-tested partnership' India has defended its ties with Russia, one of its biggest suppliers of weapons dating back to the Cold War. The two nations have a 'steady and time-tested partnership,' Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters on Friday. 'Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country,' Jaiswal said. Asked about ties with the US, he added that he's 'confident that the relationship will continue to move forward.' India expects US trade negotiators to visit the country toward the end of the month to continue talks on a bilateral deal, an official in New Delhi said Friday. The nation will hold its ground and won't give the US access to its dairy and agriculture sectors, the official said, citing political and religious sensitivities. Modi's renewed emphasis on domestic manufacturing and consumption echoes his long-standing 'Make in India' initiative. However, the message has taken on new urgency after the US tariffs. 'The interests of our farmers, our small industries and the employment of our youth are of paramount importance,' Modi told the rally on Saturday.
