- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed plans for AI agents and superintelligence by 2025, while Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin proposed blockchain-based safeguards for advanced AI systems.
- Altman emphasized rapid AI innovation, whereas Buterin highlighted the need for decentralized safety mechanisms to mitigate potential risks.
This week, contrasting visions of artificial intelligence development from two prominent tech leaders—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin—highlighted the tension between innovation and safety in the AI sector.
Altman announced in a blog post that OpenAI’s user base has tripled to over 300 million weekly active users, positioning the company as a frontrunner in the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI). He stated that OpenAI is confident in its ability to develop AGI, predicting that AI agents could “join the workforce” by 2025, potentially reshaping corporate productivity. Beyond AGI, Altman revealed that OpenAI is working toward “superintelligence,” though no clear timeline for these developments was provided.
In contrast, Buterin proposed a cautious approach, suggesting blockchain-based failsafe mechanisms to manage advanced AI systems. His concept of “decentralized/defensive acceleration” (d/acc) prioritizes safety while supporting technological progress. A key element of his proposal involves a “soft pause” system for industrial-scale AI operations.
Using cryptographic tools like zero-knowledge proofs, this system would require weekly approvals from multiple international groups to continue AI operations, effectively creating a global master switch to prevent selective enforcement or misuse.
Buterin argued that such measures would act as an insurance policy against catastrophic scenarios while maintaining fairness by imposing equal restrictions on all AI developers. He noted that cooperation between governments, major AI developers, and the crypto sector would be essential to implement such global control systems.
The divergent perspectives underscore the broader debate in the tech industry about balancing rapid AI advancement with mechanisms to mitigate potential risks. While Altman’s vision focuses on accelerating AI’s transformative potential, Buterin’s proposal emphasizes the importance of safeguards to ensure responsible development.
Editorial Note: This news article has been written with assistance from AI. Edited & fact-checked by Harshajit Sarmah.
