OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has predicted that while the cost of developing AI systems will continue to rise, user access to these technologies will become significantly more affordable.
In a blog post on February 9, Altman highlighted that advancements in AI performance still require substantial investments in training and infrastructure. However, he anticipates that the cost for users to access AI services will decrease tenfold each year, potentially driving widespread adoption. As an example, he pointed to a significant price reduction for OpenAI’s GPT-4 model between early 2023 and mid-2024.
Altman’s post comes just before the Paris AI Action Summit, where he is expected to further explore AI’s future. His remarks follow growing competition from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, whose low-cost, open-source AI model has disrupted the industry and fueled global concerns about AI development expenses and accessibility.
Rising Costs
Altman emphasized that developing advanced AI systems demands increasingly large investments in computation, data, and infrastructure—a trend that is expected to continue as companies compete to build more powerful models. However, he noted that while development costs rise, user access to AI services is becoming significantly more affordable. He predicts that AI access costs will decline tenfold every year, a shift he believes will accelerate adoption across industries such as education, healthcare, and finance.
To support ongoing AI advancements, OpenAI is working to secure up to $40 billion in funding. Meanwhile, major corporate partners—including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, and SoftBank—have pledged $500 billion over four years to expand AI infrastructure in the United States.
Altman envisions AI systems becoming deeply integrated into various knowledge-based industries, with millions of AI agents enhancing productivity. However, he cautioned that while these systems will excel in certain domains, they will still have notable limitations.
Open source vs. Safety
The emergence of DeepSeek’s open-source AI model has reignited discussions on whether AI companies should take a more open or restrictive approach. Altman recognized that increasing user control, including open-sourcing certain aspects of AI technology, might be necessary. However, he cautioned that greater openness could pose safety risks, such as the spread of misinformation and potential misuse by bad actors.
In response to DeepSeek’s growing influence, OpenAI is reportedly reevaluating its open-source strategy. Altman emphasized that finding the right balance between user empowerment and security will inevitably involve trade-offs.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
Altman spoke about artificial general intelligence (AGI), a system capable of solving complex problems across multiple fields with human-like intelligence. While some experts believe AGI is still years away, he remains optimistic about its near-term development and expects it to be widely used to improve efficiency in various industries.
Economically, Altman predicts AGI will lower the cost of many goods, though prices for luxury items and scarce resources like land may rise. He also warned that AGI could be exploited for mass surveillance by authoritarian governments.
Despite these concerns, Altman reaffirmed OpenAI’s strong partnership with Microsoft, stating that his views on AGI do not affect their collaboration. Microsoft, which has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI, remains a key partner in the company’s long-term growth.
As AI technology advances, Altman’s vision highlights both opportunities and challenges. Balancing development costs, accessibility, and security will be crucial as the global AI race heats up.
