OpenAI CEO on the future of programming | Sam Altman and Lex Fridman
Summary
TLDRLooking into the future of programming, the landscape is expected to transform significantly, with a potential shift towards natural language coding and a departure from traditional methods like bytecode or punch cards. This evolution could redefine the skill set and predisposition required for programmers, emphasizing puzzle-solving abilities and adaptability across multiple tools, including traditional languages like C and natural language interfaces. The discussion also touches on the future of humanoid robots and embodied AI, highlighting OpenAI's interest in returning to robotics. This shift towards more physical-world applications of AI could change how tasks are performed, aiming to reduce human physical involvement in task execution.
Takeaways
- ๐ The future of programming is expected to evolve significantly, with humans potentially programming in natural language.
- ๐ The nature of programming will change, rendering certain current practices obsolete, similar to how punch cards are no longer used.
- ๐ค The skillset required for programmers will adapt, but the core abilities like problem-solving will remain crucial.
- ๐น Highly skilled practitioners will likely use a variety of tools, including natural language and lower-level languages like C when necessary.
- ๐ค The transition to new technologies raises questions about the predispositions and characteristics of future programmers.
- ๐ Embodied AI, such as humanoid robots, is considered important for interacting with the physical world beyond just AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).
- ๐ Open AI has a history in robotics and may return to developing physical robots in the future, despite past challenges.
- ๐ค The development of robots is seen as a positive step towards advancing technology, not as a means to turn humans into robots.
- ๐ฎ The future holds a mix of inspiration and caution as the industry continues to explore the potential of AI and robotics.
Q & A
How do you envision the future of human programming in the next 5 to 10 years?
-The future of human programming is expected to change significantly, with humans potentially programming entirely in natural language. The nature of programming will evolve, moving away from traditional coding methods, similar to how punch cards are no longer used today.
What programming languages might become obsolete or less common in the future?
-Languages like Fortran, which are currently hard to find developers for, may become obsolete or less commonly used as programming evolves and new languages or paradigms emerge.
How will the skill set of programmers change with the advent of natural language programming?
-The skill set of programmers will shift to focus more on problem-solving and the ability to communicate effectively in natural language. Technical coding skills may still be necessary for specific tasks, but the emphasis will be on broader, more versatile skills.
What are the challenges in achieving the last 1% of a programming task?
-Achieving the last 1% in programming can be challenging due to the need for fine-tuning and optimization. It often requires a deep understanding of the problem and the tools at hand, as well as a high level of expertise in the specific domain.
How do top practitioners in any field typically approach their work?
-Top practitioners in any field often use a combination of tools and methods. They may work in natural language for some tasks and switch to a more technical language like C when necessary, demonstrating versatility and adaptability in their approach.
What is embodied AI and why is it important for the future?
-Embodied AI refers to artificial intelligence that is integrated into physical forms, such as robots. It's important because it allows AI to interact directly with the physical world, which can be essential for tasks that require physical manipulation or movement.
What is OpenAI's stance on the development of humanoid robots?
-OpenAI has a history of working in robotics and believes that humanoid robots will be developed at some point in the future. The organization sees value in creating robots that can perform tasks in the physical world, rather than relying solely on human labor.
Why is the return to developing robots seen as both inspiring and menacing?
-The return to developing robots is seen as inspiring because it represents technological progress and potential advancements in AI and robotics. However, it can also be seen as menacing due to concerns about job displacement, ethical implications, and the potential for misuse of such technology.
What is the significance of the phrase 'we will return to robots' in the context of the discussion?
-The phrase 'we will return to robots' signifies a renewed focus on robotics as a field, indicating a shift back to this area of research and development after a period of less emphasis or for different reasons in the past.
How does the discussion suggest the future role of AI in physical tasks?
-The discussion suggests that in the future, AI will play a more significant role in performing physical tasks, potentially through the use of humanoid robots. This could lead to a phase change in how we interact with technology and how tasks are completed in the physical world.
Outlines
๐ค The Evolution of Programming and the Future of AI
The discussion revolves around the future of programming, speculating that while programming will remain a significant task, its nature will dramatically change. The possibility of programming in natural language is highlighted, drawing parallels with the obsolescence of older programming methods like punch cards. The conversation shifts to the skills required for future programmers, emphasizing puzzle-solving abilities and adaptability in using multiple programming languages or tools as necessary. Furthermore, the topic of humanoid robots and embodied AI is broached, expressing a desire to move beyond relying solely on humans for physical tasks. The speaker envisions a future where OpenAI plays a role in developing robotics, amidst challenges and focuses required by the organization's scale. The segment closes on a note of anticipation and caution towards the return to robotics, clarifying that it aims at enhancing AI's physical capabilities rather than transforming humans into robots.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กProgramming
๐กNatural Language
๐กPunch Cards
๐กSkill Set
๐กPuzzle Solving
๐กHuman Robots
๐กEmbodied AI
๐กAGI
๐กOpen AI
๐กTransition
๐กPhysical World Robots
Highlights
Prediction on the future of human programming in 5 to 10 years.
The possibility of programming entirely in natural language.
The evolution of programming away from binary code and punch cards.
The changing nature of the skill set required for programmers.
The enduring need for puzzle-solving skills in programming.
The use of multiple tools by top practitioners in programming.
The potential for human-robot interaction in the context of AI.
The importance of embodied AI in the physical world.
The hope for humanoid robots or physical world robots in the future.
Open AI's history and potential future in robotics.
The challenges and misconceptions in the development of robots.
The aspiration for a phase change in technology including humanoid robots.
The potential return to developing robots in the future.
The distinction between returning to robots and humans becoming robotic.
The inspiring yet potentially menacing prospect of returning to robot development.
Transcripts
on the programming front looking out
into the future how much programming do
you think humans will be doing 5 10
years from
now I mean a lot but I think it'll be in
a very different shape like you know
maybe some people program entirely in
natural language entirely natural
language I mean no one programs
like writing bite code I'm some people
no one programs the punch cards anymore
I'm sure you can find someone who does
but
you know what I mean yeah you're going
to get a lot of angry comments no no
yeah there's very few I've been looking
for people program Fortran it's hard to
fine even Fortran I I hear you but that
changes the nature what the ski the
skill set or the predisposition for the
kind of people we call programmers then
changes the skill set how much it
changes the predisposition I'm I'm not
sure oh same kind of puzle solving all
that kind of stuff you program is hard
it's like how get like that last 1% to
to close the gap how hard is that yeah I
think with most other cases the best
practitioners of The Craft will use
multiple tools and they'll do some work
in natural language and when they need
to go you know write C for something
they'll do that will we uh see a human
robots or humanoid robot brains from
open AI at some point at some point how
important is embodied AI to you I think
it's like sort of depressing if we have
AGI and the only way to like get things
done in the physical world is like to
make a human go do it m so I I really
hope that as part of this transition as
this phase change we also get uh we also
get humanoid robots or some sort of
physical world robots I mean open a has
some history in quite a bit of History
working in robotics yeah but it hasn't
quite like done in term like a small
company we have to really focus and also
robots were hard for the wrong reason at
the time but like we will return robots
at in some way at some point that sounds
both inspiring and
menacing why because immediately we will
return to robots it's kind of like in
like and like ter we will return to work
on developing robots we will not like
turn ourselves into robots of course
yeah
for
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