The only way that OpenAI was able to sell MS and others on the 100x capped non-profit and other BS was because of the AGI/superintelligence narraitive. Sam was that salesman. And Sam does seem to sincerely believe that AGI and superintelligence are realities on OpenAI's path, a perfect salesman.
But then... maybe that AGI conviction was oversold? To a level some would have interpreted as "less than candid," that's my claim.
Speaking as a technologist actually building AGI up from animal-levels following evolution (and as a result totally discounting superintelligence), I do think Sam's AGI claims veered on the edge of reality as lies.
This has something of a character of a doctrinal dispute among true believers in a millennial cult
They must be under so much crazy pressure at OpenAI that it indeed is like a cult. I'm glad to see the snake finally eat iself. Hopefully that'll return some sanity to our field.