In a surprising turn of events, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has toned down his previous claims about artificial general intelligence (AGI) being a singularity that would fundamentally reshape society. At the New York Times DealBook Summit, Altman stated that AGI is coming soon, but its impact will be less significant than initially anticipated. This shift in perspective has sparked debate within the AI community, with some experts questioning the industry's focus on subscription models and new features.

Altman's comments come as OpenAI launches its "12 days of shipmas" campaign, offering a new $200 monthly subscription for its latest model. This move is seen as a strategic shift towards generating revenue through subscription-based services, rather than relying solely on the development of AGI. The stakes are lower, and the prices are higher, marking a significant change in the AI industry's approach.

The Vergecast, a popular tech podcast, discussed Altman's about-face and the implications of the AI industry's new direction. The podcast's hosts, Nilay and David, explored the world of subscriptions, including their own newly launched subscription model for The Verge. They also delved into the ongoing "cable-ification" of the streaming world, where services like Disney and Max are bundling content and launching always-on channels, reminiscent of traditional cable TV.

The AI industry is abuzz with activity, as Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended his company's AI leadership, and Amazon launched its own set of Nova AI models. However, concerns about AI's accuracy and reliability persist, with ChatGPT's search results being deemed "unpredictable" and frequently inaccurate. Experts are warning against using generative AI as a search engine, citing instances of misinformation and fake details being added to court filings.

In the midst of this AI frenzy, other tech news is making headlines. Bitcoin has reached $100,000, and Intel's CEO has stepped down after only three years. Verizon is raising its fees, and Spotify Wrapped 2024 has added an AI-powered podcast to recap users' listening habits. The tech landscape is rapidly evolving, with AI playing an increasingly prominent role.

As the AI industry continues to shift its focus towards subscription models and new features, the question remains: what does the future hold for artificial general intelligence? Will AGI become a reality, and if so, will its impact be as significant as initially predicted? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the AI industry is undergoing a significant transformation, and the stakes are higher than ever.

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