OpenAI releases GPT-4 for paid users and talks up ‘human-level’ abilities

The news: On Tuesday, OpenAI released GPT-4, a large multimodal AI model that surpasses its predecessor, GPT-3.5, in capabilities.

• The model can accept text and image inputs and spit out generative text with “human-level performance,” OpenAI says, per Ars Technica.
• The startup also claims that the model passed a simulated bar exam, scoring around the top 10% of test takers, compared with GPT-3.5, which scored in the bottom 10%.
• In addition to the new functionality of describing images in detail, GPT-4 is more precise, has higher accuracy, can accurately summarize an article, and can exhibit humor, per The New York Times.
• The upgraded model is available via ChatGPT Plus, and its API has a waitlist.

We’ve met GPT-4 before: Alongside the release, Microsoft disclosed that its Bing AI chatbot is based on GPT-4.

• Reviewing the success and pitfalls of Bing AI’s debut gives some indication of GPT-4’s capabilities.
• We can expect GPT-4 to at times present fiction as fact, struggle with current events, and be unpredictable.
• The revelation shows that increasing model complexity alone won’t solve all of generative AI’s problems and could make some issues worse.

What this means for Google: The upgrade coming mere months after ChatGPT emerged could be a sign that we’ll see steady commercial releases of increasingly sophisticated generative AI models.

• Google hasn’t released its Bard, yet it’s now talking about its more powerful Big Bard, likely as a result of pressure to show that it’s working on something impressive.
• GPT-4’s functionality means Google has to play catch-up again and give Big Bard multimodal features that surpass GPT-4 capabilities.
• The challenge for Google is to hit a bullseye in its release of a model that will offer more than the competition and that doesn’t embarrass the company.

This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Connectivity & Tech Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the technology industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.

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