OpenAI’s recent “12 Days of Shipmas” event wrapped up with high hopes for groundbreaking AI innovations, but many were left disappointed.
The event promised new tech, but much of it felt like rehashed features or minor updates.
A Familiar Start
On day one, OpenAI released a full version of its o1 model, which had already been launched. The new $200 Pro mode, requiring more processing power, didn’t excite everyone. The response was mixed, with some users questioning its value.
Repackaging Old Features
As the days went on, OpenAI released updates that seemed more like repackaged old features than anything truly new. For example, Sora, a text-to-video model, didn’t live up to expectations. It was just a basic version of what had already been promised.
ChatGPT’s updates also didn’t impress. While it was nice to see new features like ChatGPT Projects, many noted that similar tools had already been available from competitors like Claude.
The WhatsApp Announcement
OpenAI’s big reveal on day 12 was the announcement of ChatGPT’s availability on WhatsApp. While this might seem exciting, it was nothing new. Meta had already made AI bots available for WhatsApp users for free.
Google’s Response
Meanwhile, Google quietly released new updates, including Project Mariner and Gemini 2.0, without any fanfare. Their approach seemed to work, as the AI community quickly shifted focus, with some even suggesting Google was outshining OpenAI.
The AGI Debate
As the event wrapped up, there were hints that OpenAI might soon announce Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
However, when the o3 model was revealed, it was clear that AGI was still a distant dream. Though the o3 model scored well on benchmarks, experts like François Chollet and Gary Marcus raised concerns about its limitations.
Looking Ahead
Despite the mixed reactions to the 12 days of Shipmas, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, remains optimistic. He expects AI systems to make significant cognitive leaps by 2025, but he also acknowledged that the term “AGI” might not be as meaningful in the future.
The world is watching closely as OpenAI continues its pursuit of advanced AI, but for now, the hype around Shipmas has left many wondering if the company can truly deliver on its big promises.
