OpenAI chief Sam Altman stood on stage in San Francisco earlier this month to announce that ChatGPT, the start-up’s brainchild which kickstarted a new era of artificial intelligence a year ago, has 100mn weekly users.
He also announced the company would half the price of its software and launch an AI app store, in moves designed to proliferate the use of the revolutionary technology. Altman paused between every sentence to let the applause die down.
His ability to inspire would also be seen weeks later, after OpenAI’s board abruptly sacked him. The defenestration served only to trigger an internal revolt, with the majority of staff demanding Altman’s immediate reinstatement.