Sam Altman Discusses AI Ethics and OpenAIs Future at TED 2025

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed during a tense interview at TED 2025 that the company now boasts 800 million weekly active users, calling the growth "unbelievable." The conversation, led by TED head Chris Anderson, covered OpenAI's explosive expansion, ethical dilemmas, and future plans.

Key Highlights from the Interview

• Exponential Growth: Altman described OpenAI's scaling challenges, joking that their GPUs are "melting" due to demand. The company recently closed a $40 billion funding round, valuing it at $300 billion.
• Ethical Concerns: Anderson pressed Altman on OpenAI's shift from a non-profit to a for-profit giant, referencing Elon Musk's criticism that Altman has been "corrupted by the Ring of Power."
• Artist Compensation: Altman announced plans to pay artists whose styles are emulated by AI, exploring revenue-sharing models.
• Autonomous Agents: The discussion turned tense when addressing AI agents like OpenAI's Operator, which can perform tasks online. Altman acknowledged safety risks but provided few specifics.
• AGI Definition: Altman admitted OpenAI lacks a consensus on defining Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), joking that 10 researchers would yield 14 definitions.
• Content Moderation: OpenAI has loosened restrictions on image generation, giving users more control over outputs.

Altman's Vision for the Future

Altman reflected on his newborn son's future, stating, "My kid will never be smarter than AI." He envisions a world of material abundance and rapid technological change.

Challenges Ahead

OpenAI faces mounting legal battles, including copyright lawsuits, while pushing AI boundaries with tools like ChatGPT's image generation and Sora for video.

Anderson closed with a sobering note: Altman's decisions will shape humanity's future, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.