AI on the cusp of “thinking”? Meta and OpenAI tease models that reason and plan
Hold onto your hats, AI enthusiasts! Tech giants Meta and OpenAI are on the verge of releasing new AI models that boast the ability to reason and plan. This is a significant leap towards achieving human-like intelligence in machines, also known as artificial general intelligence (AGI).
These upgrades are part of a larger trend in 2024 with various companies like Google and Anthropic releasing their own advanced large language models. The focus? Generative AI –– imagine software that creates realistic text, images, and even videos, indistinguishable from human output.
So, what’s the big deal about reasoning and planning? Today’s AI excels at specific tasks, but struggles with broader thinking. Imagine a chatbot that can’t predict the outcome of its actions or a virtual assistant that gets flustered by complex questions. Reasoning allows AI to overcome these limitations.
Think of it this way: AI that reasons can “search for possible answers,” plan a sequence of actions, and even understand the consequences of those actions. Meta’s Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun calls this a “missing piece” crucial for taking AI to the “next level of intelligence.”
Here are some potential applications of this new wave of AI:
- Smarter chatbots and virtual assistants: Imagine a travel assistant that not only books your flights but also helps you navigate unfamiliar airports and plan your itinerary.
- Enhanced troubleshooting: AI assistants embedded in smart glasses could diagnose problems with appliances and guide you through repairs, step-by-step.
With these advancements, Meta envisions integrating its AI models into everyday tools like WhatsApp and smart glasses. OpenAI remains tight-lipped about the specifics of their upcoming GPT-5 model, but promises “more to say soon.”
The future of AI seems bright, with the potential to revolutionize how we interact with technology and navigate the world around us. Get ready for AI that not just reacts, but reasons and plans alongside us.