1. Sam Altman criticizes Google’s aesthetic in comparison to OpenAI’s at recent events.
2. OpenAI announces new AI model GPT-4o that can reason across audio, vision, and text in real time.
3. Google announces updates to its AI models, including new AI agent “Project Astra” and future of Google Search, with rivalry highlighted by Altman and Google engineer banter.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took aim at Google in a recent post comparing the aesthetic of their respective AI events. Altman pointed out the stark difference between the sleek and intimate design of OpenAI’s event showcasing GPT-4o, and Google’s large scale production at Google I/O, including an outdoor stage and a performance by musician Marc Rebillet.
Despite the focus on aesthetics, both events had different structures and styles. Google’s event was longer, featuring multiple speakers, including CEO Sundar Pichai, while OpenAI’s event was shorter and held in their offices with only a few speakers. Altman did not make an appearance in the OpenAI livestream, leading to a Google employee clapping back on X, suggesting that OpenAI’s launches are timed with theirs.
While the banter between the two companies may be lighthearted, it highlights the rivalry in the AI space as both race to create top AI products. Google has been improving its Gemini AI suite and recently showcased its own AI agent’s image recognition abilities. OpenAI is reportedly working on a web search product to compete with Google’s search engine. Despite the differences in approach and style, both companies continue to push boundaries in the AI race.