In a recent episode of the "Unfulfilled Promise" interview series, Zhipu AI CEO Zhang Peng stated during a conversation with Zhang Xiaojun that the fundamental purpose behind establishing the company was not simply to generate profits. Instead, the original intention was to explore what Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) truly represents.

Zhang emphasized that creating a company and operating within the industry better aligns with the current developmental needs of artificial intelligence, rather than pursuing pure research or focusing solely on financial gains.

He described this as an exploratory process where technological advancement serves as one primary theme, while commercialization represents another distinct yet interconnected theme within today's AI ecosystem. Following OpenAI's path, he noted, has demonstrated that these two elements cannot be completely separated in the current AI landscape.

The interview transcript was compiled from live notes without speaker review, published for informational purposes only, and does not imply endorsement of the views expressed.