Tech Mahindra CEO Takes Up Sam Altman’s Challenge To Build ChatGPT-Like Model

During his recent visit to India, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was asked what Indian startups can do to build foundational models like ChatGPT with a limited budget. Sam replied that “it’s pretty hopeless.” The video clip circulated on Indian social media as Sam seemed to completely dismiss the idea of Indian companies competing with American counterparts on AI.

Tech Mahindra CEO Accepts Sam Altman’s challenge

Responding to Sam Altman’s Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani accepted the challenge put forth by OpenAI CEO that Indian companies could not match the AI skill set of their American counterparts.

Replying to the question posed by Rajan Anandan, former Google India head and currently a venture capitalist, Sam Altman said, “The way this works is we’re going to tell you, it’s totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models you shouldn’t try, and it’s your job to like try anyway. And I believe both of those things. I think it is pretty hopeless.”

Anandan later tweeted, “Thank you, Sam Altman, for the clear answer. As you said, ‘it is hopeless, but you will try anyway.’ 5000 years of Indian entrepreneurship has shown us that we should never underestimate the Indian entrepreneur. We do intend to try.”

“I think it’s the wrong question”

Replying to Tech Mahindra CEO’s tweet, Sam said that it is really taken out of context. Adding, “the question was about competing with us with $10 million, which i really do think is not going to work. But I still said try! however, I think it’s the wrong question.” In another tweet, OpenAI CEO wrote, “the right question is what a startup can do that’s never been done before, that will contribute a new thing to the world. I have no doubt Indian startups can and will do that! and no one but the builders can answer that question.”