OpenAI Sales Leader, Aliisa Rosenthal, has described her team as “AGI sherpas” in an interview with VentureBeat. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity, and Rosenthal believes that her sales, marketing, partnership, and customer success efforts play a crucial role in achieving this mission. The OpenAI sales team, which has grown from a small group to over 150 members, works towards helping customers transition to the paradigm shift of AGI.
Rosenthal admits that there is no agreed-upon definition of AGI across the AI industry, but she believes that OpenAI’s sales team serves as guides to customers on their AGI journey. The team uses feedback from customers to improve their models and gather more data for AGI development. They are not driven by quotas or commission but are aligned with OpenAI’s mission of broad distribution of AI benefits.
Rosenthal joined OpenAI two years ago, taking a risk after a four-year stint as VP of sales at SaaS company WalkMe. She was captivated by the power of OpenAI’s GPT and DALL-E models and was determined to find a business application for them. Her father’s prescient prediction about OpenAI also influenced her decision to join the organization.
OpenAI’s sales team continues to grow rapidly, with over two dozen roles available. Rosenthal believes that the company is moving from hype to reality and from experimentation to implementation. They aim to help customers embrace the change brought by AI and support them in integrating AI into their processes and workflows. The team is also working towards supporting Fortune 500 companies and understanding the needs of large enterprises.
Despite challenges and concerns about issues such as hallucinations and safety, Rosenthal remains optimistic about the future. She believes that the models will continue to improve, and organizations will become more comfortable deploying generative AI use cases. Examples such as Coca Cola leveraging GPT-4 and DALL-E to create a unique AI platform for consumers demonstrate the potential of AI to improve innovation and enhance user experiences.
Rosenthal praises OpenAI’s COO, Brad Lightcap, for his trust in his team and his openness to ideas and suggestions. The company’s culture encourages experimentation and taking on new challenges. The sales team has also conducted experiments, such as creating a unique role called Account Associate to provide a better customer experience.
Looking ahead, Rosenthal acknowledges that there is still a long journey ahead, but she remains confident and excited about the potential for more companies to embrace AI and achieve success. With the team’s continued efforts and the positive impact they have seen so far, Rosenthal believes that they can help customers navigate the AI landscape and drive meaningful change.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s sales team plays a crucial role in the organization’s mission to ensure that AGI benefits all of humanity. They serve as AGI sherpas, guiding customers through the paradigm shift of AGI and helping them integrate AI into their processes and workflows. With their rapid growth and focus on supporting large enterprises, the team is poised to drive innovation and create a better future with AI.