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OpenAI Eyes Intern-Level AI Research Assistant by 2026, Pushes for Superintelligence

OpenAI Artificial Intelligence AI Research Superintelligence Tech Innovation Deep Learning Sam Altman
October 28, 2025
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Article Summary

OpenAI is dramatically accelerating its roadmap for AI development, driven by a strategic shift toward significantly more advanced and autonomous research capabilities. CEO Sam Altman outlined a timeline projecting an intern-level research assistant by September 2026 and a fully automated ‘legitimate AI researcher’ by 2028, relying on continued algorithmic innovation and dramatically scaled “test time compute.” Critically, the company is aiming for superintelligence – systems smarter than humans across a wide range of critical tasks – a concept described by chief scientist Jakub Pachocki. This aggressive timeline is fueled by a planned $1.4 trillion investment over the next few years in infrastructure, specifically targeting 30 gigawatts of capacity. OpenAI’s restructuring, moving towards a public benefit corporation structure, will allow for greater capital raising and the ambitious scaling required to achieve these goals. The company believes that deep learning systems are potentially less than a decade away from superintelligence, positioning itself at the forefront of a potentially revolutionary shift in scientific discovery and technological innovation.

Key Points

  • OpenAI projects an intern-level AI research assistant by September 2026.
  • A fully automated ‘legitimate AI researcher’ is anticipated by 2028.
  • The company is aiming for superintelligence within a decade, requiring a $1.4 trillion infrastructure investment.

Why It Matters

This news is significant for professionals in AI, technology, and related fields due to OpenAI's increasingly aggressive and ambitious goals. The potential for rapid advancements, including the development of superintelligence, has profound implications for numerous industries, from scientific research and medicine to technology development and even the future of work. It highlights the escalating competition and investment in AI, and underscores the importance of understanding and anticipating the potential disruptive effects of increasingly capable AI systems.

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