OpenAI’s Future Pricing Plan

OpenAI intends to boost the worth of ChatGPT from its current $20 monthly to roughly $44 over the subsequent five years, aiming to greater than double its pricing structure while targeting a staggering $100 billion in revenue by 2029. Internal documents reveal that OpenAI’s revenue skyrocketed to $300 million in August, fueled by a user base that surged from 100 million in March to 350 million by June.

The free version of ChatGPT plays an important role on this growth, with projected earnings of $2.7 billion this yr, a major increase from $700 million last yr, including about $1 billion from business users. Microsoft, as OpenAI’s largest cost driver attributable to its computing power, continues to significantly put money into this collaboration. Read more.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed SB 1047, a bill that sought to manage AI model development. Authored by Senator Scott Wiener, the bill aimed to carry AI developers accountable for implementing safety protocols, targeting models costing over $100 million and requiring 10^26 FLOPS during training.

Despite opposition from key Silicon Valley figures like Meta’s Yann LeCun and U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna, Newsom acknowledged the bill’s good intentions but critiqued its broad application, stating it imposed unnecessary burdens on lower-risk systems.

Meanwhile, Wiener voiced frustration, calling the veto a setback for AI safety oversight. Newsom’s office identified his recent signing of 17 other AI-related bills and his commitment to crafting more targeted regulations with guidance from experts like Fei-Fei Li, who had previously argued that the bill would harm California’s AI ecosystem. Read more.

Apple has pulled out of discussions for OpenAI’s upcoming $6.5 billion funding round, which could have marked a rare cross-investment by the tech giant. Meanwhile, major players like Microsoft and Nvidia proceed negotiations. Microsoft, already invested in OpenAI to the tune of $13 billion, is anticipated so as to add one other $1 billion. Thrive Capital leads the round with a commitment of roughly $1 billion, joined by participants including Tiger Global Management and UAE state-backed MGX.

OpenAI can also be navigating a posh transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure attributable to investor demands. If this restructuring is not accomplished inside two years, current investors can reclaim their investments. Ongoing funding discussions should still see changes in each participants and amounts before the round closes.

In light of recent executive departures, including CTO Mira Murati, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar reassured investors of the corporate’s strong position. She emphasized a “talented leadership bench,” the commitment to sustainable revenue models, and ongoing innovation, particularly with its AI tool, Sora. Read more.

Researchers at Switzerland’s EPFL have introduced a groundbreaking robotic hand that may detach from its arm, crawl, and grasp objects. Presented within the paper “Beyond Manual Dexterity” on the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, this study advances dexterous manipulation techniques using deep learning for multi-fingered grasping.

It explores contact information-guided grasping in cluttered environments, difficult the restrictions of traditional, biologically inspired designs. The hand’s ability to bend backward enables it to handle a greater diversity of objects, pushing the boundaries of conventional robotics.

While its human-like appearance might creep you out, it’s an indication that robotics is getting more creative. As researcher Xiao Gao cheekily told IEEE, “Although you see it in scary movies, I feel we’re the primary to introduce this concept to robotics.” Read more.