OpenAI o1

Source: This post on OpenAI o1 has been created based on the article “What is OpenAI o1, an AI model that ‘thinks’ before it answers?”, published in Indian express on 14^th Sep 2024.

Why in news?

OpenAI has introduced a new AI model called OpenAI o1 as part of its “Project Strawberry.”

About OpenAI o1

1. About: The o1 series is designed to excel in reasoning, tackling complex tasks in science, coding, and maths.

2. Availability and Usage: It is available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with weekly message limits of 30 for o1-preview and 50 for o1-mini.

3. How OpenAI o1 Works:  The model “thinks” before responding, similar to human problem-solving processes. It approaches problems from multiple perspectives, checks its outputs, and learns from errors.

4. Performance and Strengths: OpenAI o1 performs well in subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology, on par with PhD students. It shows particular strength in maths and coding. It solved 83% of maths problems in a tough contest, compared to 13% from previous models. It ranked higher than 89% of coding participants.

5. Limitations: While it excels in solving complex tasks, the o1 model is not yet equipped to browse the web or handle files and images. A cheaper version (80% less costly) targeted at developers, effective in coding tasks.

6. Safety Improvements: OpenAI has improved its model’s safety by using a new training method, boosting its safety score from 22 to 84 out of 100. This progress is the result of collaboration with the UK and US governments and AI safety experts to enhance the model’s reliability.

7. Impact on Jobs:

i) Automating tasks like software development, coding, and data analysis could reduce the need for human involvement in these areas.

ii) Workers may need to develop higher-order skills like creativity and critical thinking.

iii)  New job roles may emerge in AI safety, ethical AI usage, and AI maintenance.

8. Impact on Research: OpenAI o1 could assist researchers in physics, chemistry, biology, and healthcare by speeding up problem-solving and dataset analysis.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology