OpenAI’s o1 model is designed to spend more time ‘thinking’ before it responds. This means that it can reason through complex tasks and solve harder problems than previous models.
OpenAI’s o1 is like Kahneman’s System 2 thinking.
In Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow he explores two ways of human thinking:
System 1: Fast, automatic and intuitive thinking. This mode handles everyday decisions quickly, but can be subject to errors.
System 2: Slow, deliberate and analytical thinking. We typically use this for more complex decisions that require step by step thought.
Here are some key points about OpenAI o1:
Improved reasoning: o1 models are trained to generate long thought chains, before providing an answer. This makes them more effective for complex reasoning.
Better performance: In tests, o1 models have shown significant improvements over previous models, such as GPT-4o. For example, on a qualifying exam for the International Mathematics Olympiad, o1 scored 83% compared to GPT-4o’s 13%.
Safety and alignment: OpenAI has developed new safety training approaches for o1 models to ensure that they adhere to safety and alignment guidelines more effectively.
This matters because it represents a significant advancement in AI capabilities, potentially leading to more reliable and capable AI systems.
Incidentally, OpenAI’s o1 model is a Reasoner, which puts it at Level 2 of OpenAI’s 5 levels of AI:
Level 1: Chatbots, AI with conversational language.
Level 2: Reasoners, human-level problem solving.
Level 3: Agents, systems that can take actions.
Level 4: Innovators, AI that can aid in invention.
Level 5: Organizations: AI that can do the work of an organisation.
PS AI Agents will launch in 2025.
