Sam Altman says the singularity is already here, reigniting debate over AI self-improvement
新智元 · wechat · 2026-07-26
- A long Chinese profile/commentary on Sam Altman argues that he now treats the AI singularity as something already underway.
- The piece cites Altman saying OpenAI is effectively in the middle of the singularity, and contrasts that with broader debate about whether AI progress is gradual or discontinuous.
- It discusses the risk that once AI can recursively improve itself, humans may lose meaningful control over the pace of development.
- The article links this concern to public skepticism and movements like QuitGPT, which are less about stopping progress and more about asking whether acceleration can remain controllable.
- It also includes a personal anecdote about Altman getting hooked on TikTok while researching short-form video, used as a metaphor for how even smart people can lose control to recommendation systems.
- The overall framing is philosophical and societal: if AI becomes self-improving, what happens to work, agency, and human decision-making?
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