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OpenAI chief Sam Altman has been mocked after launching a lengthy public attack on rival chatbot maker Anthropic over the latter’s planned Super Bowl adverts. Anthropic intends to use its spots to criticise the introduction of ads in ChatGPT, calling the change a “betrayal.” In a 420-word post on X, Altman fired back, accusing Anthropic of being “dishonest” and “deceptive” and even charging the company with using “doublespeak.”
But commenters on social media have turned the accusation back on Altman, with some likening his post to "the digital equivalent of a toddler throwing a tantrum".
“Looks like a nerve was well and truly hit," said one person, while another called his post "hypocritical".
"The reason Anthropic's satirical ads went viral is precisely because public trust in you and OpenAI has already hit rock bottom over the past few months," reads one prominent comment.
Altman also took issue with Anthropic's decision to run the videos during the Super Bowl on 8 February.
"I guess it's on brand for Anthropic doublespeak to use a deceptive ad to critique theoretical deceptive ads that aren't real, but a Super Bowl ad is not where I would expect it," he wrote. He justified the introduction of adverts by saying it was because OpenAI was committed to "free access" and "agency" for ChatGPT users.
"Anthropic serves an expensive product to rich people," he said, and argued his company sought to "bring AI to billions of people who can't pay for subscriptions".
But Nikita Bier, the head of product at X, offered Altman some simple advice for the future.
"Never respond to playful humour with an essay," he said.
Anthropic offers a free version of Claude, but more users have to pay for more capable versions - as they do with ChatGPT.
The firm's adverts depict a range of scenarios intended to make fun of how carrying adverts could negatively impact the way people use chatbots.
