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The AI race is intensifying, with tech giants pumping billions into the research and development of new models. US-based OpenAI became a major player in the field after launching its AI chatbot ChatGPT, with its capabilities including answering questions based on prompts and processing images. But that may change.
OpenAI is reportedly building a new AI model, which may dramatically improve AI reasoning capabilities and allow them to undertake ‘autonomous’ internet research — something existing models cannot do. What is the project and why does it have the potential to be disruptive? We explain.
Nearly six months ago, a secretive OpenAI project named Q* (Q-Star) made headlines. It was reportedly a plan for making AI capable of training itself in a new way, so that it would have planning, logical reasoning, and capabilities similar to that of a human brain.
On July 15, a report in Reuters revealed more about the project, saying OpenAI is working on a new reasoning technology under the code name “Strawberry”, believed to be the new name for Project Q*. Internal documentation from the company mentioned OpenAI’s intention to use Strawberry for deep research. As of now, the project’s exact features and details are closely guarded, including its release date.
However, it is certain that with Strawberry models, OpenAI wants AI models to plan ahead, scour the internet autonomously, and do deep research. Reuters quoted an OpenAI spokesperson as saying, “We want our AI models to see and understand the world more like we do. Continuous research into new AI capabilities is a common practice in the industry, with a shared belief that these systems will improve in reasoning over time.”
How will it be different from existing AI models?
As of now, Large Language Models (LLMs), which form the basis of AI chatbots, can summarise dense texts and compose prose instantly. However, they struggle with common sense problems and multi-step logic tasks. Strawberry models, with their enhanced reasoning, would be seen as a catalyst for AI to make some landmark scientific discoveries and undertake complex problem-solving.
According to experts, reasoning involves enabling AI to plan, understand the physical world around them and its functions, and handle multi-step problems. Currently, LLMs cannot plan ahead effectively without the support of external frameworks.
With Strawberry, AI would perform tasks that require planning and a series of actions over an extended time. In the past, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had discussed why AI models should take time, even days to think through problems and provide the best answers. If this is achieved, it could revolutionise AI’s ability to accomplish any given complex task all by itself.
How will such powerful AI models be used?
Strawberry models are aimed at significantly improving AI capabilities. Such models could undertake advanced research — conduct experiments, analyse data, and suggest new hypotheses. This could lead to multiple breakthroughs in sciences. In medical research, they could assist in drug discovery, research in genetics, and even analyse vast datasets to devise personalised medicines.
With enhanced problem-solving abilities, AI could solve complex mathematical problems, help in engineering calculations, and even participate in theoretical research. It could handle problems requiring logical deductions and be helpful in legal analysis and strategic planning. The models could also greatly aid education by offering personalised tutoring, creating educational content and interactive lessons.
In business, these models could analyse market trends, predict economic changes, assess risks, and help with investment decisions. Similarly in creative fields, it could also aid in writing, creating art and music, generating videos, and designing video games.
With human-like reasoning skills, these models could affect change across industries. Improved AI capabilities would also further existing criticism of AI in terms of its impact on jobs, the vast amounts of power it requires to run, and the ethical questions surrounding its reproduction of existing works by humans.
