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The $100 Billion Gamble: Microsoft, OpenAI, And The Race For AGI

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 30, 2024

Microsoft and OpenAI are chasing a colossal prize: artificial general intelligence (AGI) capable of generating $100 billion in profit. It’s a staggering figure that’s shaping their partnership and defining what success looks like for both companies. But while this business-driven metric sets a clear target, it’s a far cry from the philosophical vision of AGI—an AI that can outperform humans in most economically valuable tasks.

The Reality Check

Here’s the kicker: OpenAI is nowhere near hitting that financial goal. The company is burning through billions, with losses expected to continue until at least 2029. And the financial strain is only one piece of the puzzle.

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OpenAI’s dependence on Microsoft, which has poured billions into the startup, has come at a cost. The exclusive deal requires OpenAI to rely heavily on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure. While this partnership has fueled OpenAI’s rapid growth, it’s also created friction.

Friends Or Frenemies?

Sam Altman has described the partnership with Microsoft as “the best friendship in tech,” but cracks are showing. OpenAI has been renegotiating terms to gain more flexibility, including the ability to buy computing power from Oracle. These changes signal a growing desire to ease the pressure of being tied too closely to a single partner.

At the heart of this partnership is a fascinating clause: if OpenAI achieves AGI, Microsoft loses access to the technology. This safeguard is meant to prevent misuse of AGI, but it also raises the stakes. The closer OpenAI gets to AGI, the more complicated this “friendship” could become.

The Cost Of Ambition

OpenAI’s expenses are jaw-dropping. By the end of 2024, the company will have spent at least $5.4 billion on computing power alone, with annual costs expected to skyrocket to $37.5 billion by 2029. Despite this, the startup is betting big on its future, exploring partnerships with heavyweights like Apple, Nvidia, and MGX to diversify its support system.

What’s Next?

The $100 billion target isn’t just a financial goal—it’s a litmus test for whether OpenAI can achieve the kind of scale and impact that AGI promises. But AGI remains a distant dream, and until then, OpenAI will continue walking a tightrope: innovating at breakneck speed while managing the weight of its partnership with Microsoft.

For now, the tech world is watching closely, because this isn’t just a story about a company—it’s a story about the future of intelligence itself.

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Call for Reform: Cyprus Faces New Challenges with Emerging Tobacco Products

by News Editor

May 31, 2025

In the face of a burgeoning variety of tobacco products, existing smoking laws in Cyprus are struggling to keep pace, as highlighted by Christos Minas, the president of the Cyprus National Addictions Authority (AAEK). On World No-Tobacco Day, there was a push for legislative reforms to comprehensively cover all tobacco forms, including non-nicotine alternatives.

Addressing Rising Trends with Effective Policies

Minas emphasized the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes and flavored products, particularly among the youth. The proposed legal updates aim to enhance enforcement efficiency against these emerging trends.

In collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework, the AAEK has established the first set of national guidelines for smoking cessation in Cyprus, crafting prevention and treatment strategies based on robust scientific evidence.

Educating Youth and Public Awareness Initiatives

Efforts are underway to raise awareness, with informative materials distributed to secondary schools across Cyprus. A public event in Nicosia highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment, providing carbon monoxide testing and expert advice on new tobacco products.

Recent data from the Cyprus general population survey 2023 indicates that 38% of smokers have used e-cigarettes recently, and the smoking initiation age remains at 18.

A Glimpse into Youth Smoking Patterns

According to the latest European school survey, 14% of Cypriot students aged 15-16 reported smoking traditional cigarettes last month. Although this rate is declining, Cyprus still ranks high in Europe for e-cigarette and hookah use among students.

The concern is global, with WHO reports showing over 37 million children aged 13-15 engage in tobacco use, driven by aggressive marketing in loosely regulated environments.

The urgency for reform is clear: before these trends solidify, proactive measures are necessary to protect future generations from potentially hazardous habits.