OpenAI’s de facto No. 2, Fidji Simo, said the wave of spending on Artificial Intelligence infrastructure is not a bubble but the new normal required to meet fast-rising demand. In her first interview since becoming chief operating officer of OpenAI’s applications, including the flagship ChatGPT model, Simo told AFP that computing power has become a strategic resource and that demand already outstrips supply. She pointed to the company’s video generator Sora as an example, noting that interest far exceeds what OpenAI can currently serve. The remarks come as OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, pours money into data centers and Artificial Intelligence chips despite no clear signs that the emerging business is close to breaking even.
Simo emphasized balancing innovation with safeguards, particularly around sensitive use cases. She said many users turn to ChatGPT for mental health advice when professional care is unaffordable, and that parents report receiving useful guidance for family situations. At the same time, she stressed that the model must behave as expected. On mental health, she referenced a robust road map that began with parental controls. OpenAI also plans to introduce age prediction so that teenagers receive a less permissive version of the model than adults, tailoring the experience to better protect younger users.
Looking ahead, Simo described the next breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence as systems that understand user goals and proactively help achieve them. Rather than only answering questions or holding a dialogue, future assistants could anticipate needs, plan tasks such as weekend getaways and even prepare reservations for one-tap approval. While she said this vision is still early, Simo added that the company is moving in that direction. On children’s usage, she reiterated that ChatGPT is not intended for those under 13, though she allows her 10-year-old to use it under supervision. She described watching her child create banners and taglines for a new business idea as an example of how the tool can rapidly turn imagination into reality.
