Welcome to Discover Daily , by Perplexity , your AI-curated digest of breakthroughs in tech , science and culture . I'm Alex . Today , we're exploring a range of topics , including Eric Schmidt's opposition to an AGI Manhattan project . But first let's look at what else is happening across the tech and geopolitical landscape .
Our first story today is about OpenAI's ambitious new AI agent plans . The company behind ChatGPT is set to introduce a line of AI agents with monthly subscription plans ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 . These agents are expected to contribute up to 25% of OpenAI's future revenue .
The pricing structure is tiered with low-end agents at $2,000 per month , targeting high-income knowledge workers . Mid-tier agents around $10,000 for software development tasks , and high-end agents up to $20,000 , functioning as PhD-level research assistants . This move signals a significant shift in OpenAI's business model .
The company anticipates that agent products will make up 20% to 25% of its total revenue in the future . This projection is supported by a major $3 billion investment from SoftBank specifically for agent development this year . These AI agents represent a leap in artificial intelligence capability .
They're designed to autonomously perform complex tasks , utilizing advanced language models and decision-making algorithms to interact with digital environments , execute actions and solve problems with minimal human intervention . Moving on to our second story minimal human intervention .
Moving on to our second story , we turn to the Pacific Island nation of Nauru , which has launched a controversial Golden Passport scheme to fund its climate change mitigation efforts . Nauru is now offering citizenship for $105,000 through its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program .
This initiative provides visa-free access to 89 countries and is expected to generate $5.7 million in its first year , potentially scaling up to $42 million annually . The urgency behind this program is clear .
Nauru , a tiny coral atoll with an average elevation of just three metres above sea level , faces existential threats from climate change , particularly rising sea levels . The island nation's limited resources and small population of around 10,000 make financing large-scale adaptation projects particularly challenging . Scale adaptation projects particularly challenging .
Funds from the Citizenship Program are earmarked for inland relocation and infrastructure development , with the initial relocation phase estimated to cost over $60 million . President David Adiang emphasized that this initiative is about securing a viable future for upcoming generations . However , the program has sparked debate due to potential risks and ethical concerns .
Critics worry about criminal exploitation , vetting issues and the commodification of national identity . There are also concerns about transparency and the potential for corruption in the application process .
Now let's dive into our main story of the day former Google CEO Eric Schmidt's opposition to a US government-led Manhattan project for developing artificial general intelligence , or AGI .
Schmidt , along with other tech leaders , has published a policy paper titled Superintelligence Strategy that argues against a government-led AGI development program modeled after the 1940s atomic bomb project . The paper outlines several key concerns . Program modeled after the 1940s atomic bomb project . The paper outlines several key concerns .
First , schmidt and his co-authors warn that a US-led AGI Manhattan Project could escalate international tensions and potentially trigger a dangerous AI arms race , particularly with China . They argue that rival nations fearing a global power imbalance in superintelligence might resort to sophisticated cyber attacks to disrupt US AI advancements .
The authors also challenge the assumption that competitors would simply accept an enduring imbalance or potential existential threat rather than taking preventive action . This perspective marks a significant shift in Schmidt's stance on AI competition . In the past , schmidt had been more supportive of aggressive AI development .
However , this paper reflects a growing concern about about the risks of unchecked superintelligence development . He now advocates for a more cautious approach , emphasizing defensive strategies and international cooperation in AI advancement . A key concept introduced in the paper is mutual assured AI malfunction .
This strategy draws parallels to nuclear deterrence while addressing the unique challenges of AGI development . Mutual Assured AI Malfunction suggests proactively disabling threatening AI projects .
Rather than waiting for adversaries to weaponize AGI , the authors propose expanding cyber attack capabilities to neutralize dangerous AI developments in other nations and limiting adversaries' access to advanced AI chips and open source models .
This approach represents a shift from winning the race to superintelligence to deterring other countries from creating potentially harmful AGI . Instead of a high-stakes race for AGI supremacy , schmidt and his co-authors advocate for a more measured defensive strategy that prioritizes AI safety , focuses on deterring hostile AI development and promotes international cooperation .
They argue that fostering collaboration and shared safety standards could lead to more stable and beneficial outcomes in the long-term pursuit of AGI . That wraps up today's episode of Discover Daily . Our new deep research feature , launched earlier this month , now analyzes hundreds of sources in minutes .
Think of it as deploying a personal research team through our web and mobile platforms . This cutting-edge tool combines autonomous reasoning with rapid processing to deliver exhaustive reports on specialized topics . Deep research excels at expert-level tasks across various domains , from finance and marketing to product research , and is available on our desktop and mobile apps .
Thanks for listening . We'll be back with more stories that shape our world . Until then , stay curious .