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OpenAI Finalizes PBC Shift, Targets 2026 Intern-Level Assistant and 2028 Autonomous Researcher With $1.4 Trillion Compute Plan

The OpenAI Foundation takes a 26% stake with a $25 billion mandate to steer scientific priorities and safety.

Overview

  • CEO Sam Altman said the company is tracking toward an intern-level research assistant by September 2026 and a fully autonomous “legitimate AI researcher” by 2028, framing them as internal targets.
  • OpenAI says it will pursue algorithmic advances alongside large increases in test-time compute, with current models handling roughly five-hour tasks and matching top performers on challenges like the International Mathematics Olympiad.
  • The company pledged to build 30 gigawatts of computing infrastructure over the coming years, an effort Altman estimated at about $1.4 trillion.
  • OpenAI’s restructuring into a public benefit corporation is complete, with the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation owning 26% of the for-profit arm and overseeing research direction plus a $25 billion program for disease research and AI safety.
  • Financing and buildout remain uncertain, with CoinCentral reporting only about 4.5 GW tied to a $30 billion Oracle partnership and the remainder lacking confirmed funding, power arrangements, or regulatory approvals.