A Brief History of ChatGPT

• Discusses the rapid evolution and impact of ChatGPT, a revolutionary AI technology that has gained widespread recognition.

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• OpenAI was established in December 2015 as a non-profit research organization aimed at developing AI technologies for the benefit of humanity.

• Initial funding included $1 billion from notable donors such as Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Peter Thiel (PayPal), and Jessica Livingston (investor and author).

• Sam Altman, known for his role at Y Combinator, co-founded OpenAI; he also runs Tools for Humanity.

• Elon Musk is another co-founder but later became one of OpenAI’s critics due to conflicts of interest with Tesla’s AI projects.

• In April 2016, OpenAI launched its first projects including OpenAI Gym, a platform for training AI models.

• The first research paper published focused on generative models, laying groundwork for future developments like ChatGPT.

• On June 11, 2018, GPT-1 was released; it stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer—a foundational model behind ChatGPT.

• The architecture involves understanding word order and context through neural networks trained on vast amounts of text data.

• “Pre-trained” indicates initial training without specific tasks; adjustments are made later to specialize in various applications.

• “Generative” refers to the model’s ability to produce coherent text based on learned patterns from diverse sources.

• While GPT serves as the underlying language model, ChatGPT represents its practical application as an interactive chatbot.

OpenAI’s Evolution and Impact on AI Technology

• OpenAI faced challenges in keeping pace with competitors, leading to a significant change in leadership when Musk stepped down. In February 2019, they introduced GPT-2, featuring 1.5 billion parameters trained on internet content but initially restricted to researchers due to concerns over misuse.

• In 2019, OpenAI transitioned into a hybrid for-profit model while seeking additional funding for research and development. Sam Altman remained CEO and secured a $1 billion investment from Microsoft after demonstrating the new technology.

• A major criticism arose as OpenAI shifted from its original non-profit research institute model to a more opaque corporate structure focused on larger deals.

• May 2020 saw the release of GPT-3, boasting an impressive 175 billion parameters. It was capable of generating human-like text based on diverse sources such as books and articles.

• By 2021, OpenAI began showcasing practical applications of GPT-3 through services like DALL-E (image generation), Codex (code generation), and Whisper (real-time voice recognition).

• Public interest surged in September 2022 with the release of DALL-E 2, followed by the groundbreaking launch of ChatGPT on November 30, 2022. This chatbot utilized GPT-3.5 technology and quickly gained popularity.

• ChatGPT was designed with human feedback mechanisms for improved accuracy. Within five days post-launch, it amassed over one million users; two months later, it surpassed 100 million users—faster than TikTok.

• In February 2023, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Plus—a paid version offering enhanced features—and released GPT-4 in March with improved capabilities including better context handling and reduced inaccuracies.

• Amid rapid advancements, notable figures like Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk called for a pause in AI research due to ethical concerns. Italy temporarily banned ChatGPT over similar worries about misuse.

• Sam Altman embarked on a global tour discussing AI regulation while ChatGPT found applications across various fields including education and customer service. Competitors emerged rapidly within the generative AI space.

• Despite widespread adoption, ethical issues surfaced regarding copyright violations linked to training data used by ChatGPT. By July 2023, OpenAI discontinued its tool that identified AI-generated texts due to loss of control over content origins.

• In November 2023, OpenAI introduced customizable versions of their models known as “GPTs” for specific tasks while facing internal turmoil marked by Sam Altman’s unexpected dismissal by the board amidst ongoing controversies surrounding governance.

OpenAI’s Controversies and Innovations in 2023-2024

• Altman faced potential dismissal if the board was not dissolved, but he returned to his position as if nothing had happened.

• Increased criticism arose towards the chatbot’s performance, with claims that it was becoming “lazier” and making more errors, leading users to explore competitors’ chatbots.

• The announcement of Sora, an AI capable of creating videos from text commands, sparked discussions on copyright issues due to suspected unauthorized use of YouTube videos for training.

• In May 2024, OpenAI partnered with Reddit to integrate its content into chatbots while establishing a safety committee to address global regulatory pressures regarding AI transparency.

• The launch of ChatGPT Edu targeted universities with a subscription plan; GPT-4o (Omni), a new language model version, showcased advanced capabilities including image analysis and contextual memory.

• A controversy emerged when the chatbot’s voice resembled actress Scarlett Johansson’s from the film “Her,” leading her to refuse an agreement with OpenAI despite their usage of her voice.