Today: Feb 12, 2025

Sam Altman Responds to DeepSeek: “We’re bringing even better models soon”

Sam Altman’s response to DeepSeek’s rise? It’s not a panic, it’s a quiet warning. While DeepSeek garners headlines with its impressive new model, Altman’s focus is on something far bigger: OpenAI’s next leap toward superintelligence. Could they be holding all the cards for the future of AI, while everyone else chases short-term wins? The next few months could change everything.
Sam Altman | Screen shot
2 weeks ago

It’s rare to see the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, comment on the release of competitors ai advancements . Yet, when DeepSeek, a new player in the AI space, burst onto the scene, making waves with its powerful new model, Altman’s response was, well, surprisingly loud and timely.

For those tracking the AI race, DeepSeek’s arrival was no small event. The hype surrounding it quickly overshadowed the usual chatter about GPT-4 and other OpenAI advancements. Many wondered: What’s the deal with Altman’s silence? Is OpenAI in trouble, or is this simply another move in a much bigger game?

Sam Altman, ever the strategist, finally broke his silence. He acknowledged the impressive capabilities of DeepSeek’s R1 model, especially when it comes to price-to-performance. But then came the key statement, the one that many might have missed: “We will obviously deliver much better models.”

 

For some, this might sound like the expected CEO bravado, but there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye. OpenAI’s focus is not on playing catch-up. Instead, they’re setting their sights much further ahead, and as Altman put it, they are “turning their aim beyond” current AI models to something much bigger: Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).

While most of the world is focused on the incremental improvements made with each new iteration of GPT, OpenAI’s real game plan might be in developing something far more powerful. Historically, OpenAI’s innovations have always been about more than just models—they’ve been about creating the foundations for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).

But as Altman subtly hinted in a recent blog post, they’re not just focusing on the traditional AI trajectory. They’ve begun planning for ASI, which, if realized, could change everything. Imagine the power of an intelligence system so advanced, it could accelerate scientific discovery and problem-solving in ways we can’t yet fully comprehend.

This shift in focus should be taken seriously. OpenAI isn’t just concerned with marginal improvements or chasing after competitors. Instead, they’re pouring resources into developing superintelligent systems that will have far-reaching implications.

The buzz around DeepSeek may be loud right now, but as Altman noted, the real value lies in systems that go beyond mere task automation and venture into true “goal-pursuing” AI—what OpenAI is calling “super agents.” These entities won’t just respond to simple commands; they’ll synthesize massive amounts of data, analyze complex options, and create innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

This isn’t just about creating smarter chatbots or more efficient models. It’s about AI becoming a catalyst for massive societal and economic change. And while some might argue that DeepSeek’s efficiency is the future of AI, OpenAI’s ambitions are setting them on a trajectory toward fundamentally altering how humanity interacts with intelligence itself. The stakes? The potential for a new era in technological evolution.

It’s important to remember that the journey to ASI is not linear. We’ve already seen some public drama around the rapid pace of AI advancements. People have questioned whether OpenAI is losing its edge, especially as competitors like DeepSeek push forward with their innovative approaches. However, as any seasoned observer knows, the AI market is in constant flux—and things can change in the blink of an eye.

Just because OpenAI isn’t releasing the latest and greatest models every few months doesn’t mean they’re falling behind. Far from it. In fact, they’re investing in a much longer-term vision that will likely place them at the forefront of the next stage of AI development.

Altman himself has been vocal about the need for massive computational power to achieve these breakthroughs. He believes that while efficiency improvements, like those seen in DeepSeek’s models, are important, the true breakthroughs in AI will come from an ever-growing demand for computing resources to handle the complexities of ASI. And while we’re still in the early stages of this journey, OpenAI’s roadmap suggests that they’re not just keeping pace—they’re building the future.

For now, AI enthusiasts may find themselves wondering if GPT-5 or GPT-6 will rival DeepSeek’s innovations. But it’s crucial to remember that OpenAI is playing the long game, focusing on superintelligence and super agents that are poised to transform industries across the board. DeepSeek might be the flashier newcomer, but OpenAI’s plans are far more ambitious and could be the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for.

Sam Altman’s focus on superintelligence and ASI might seem like a cryptic hint now, but in 5, 10, or 20 years, we could very well look back at these quiet moments as the beginning of something transformative. So, as the DeepSeek drama unfolds, don’t be distracted by the noise. The real story is still being written, and OpenAI has set the pen in motion toward a future where AI does far more than we can even imagine.

Fabrice Iranzi

Journalist and Project Leader at LionHerald, strong passion in tech and new ideas, serving Digital Company Builders in UK and beyond
E-mail: iranzi@lionherald.com

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