The artificial intelligence industry has not yet established a clear definition of what it aims to sell, particularly concerning the measurement of intelligence. This lack of clarity was highlighted when Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, remarked at an infrastructure summit about envisioning a future where intelligence could be purchased and measured like utilities such as electricity and water. This statement provoked interest and confusion among leaders of major U.S. infrastructure companies who are familiar with metrics for tangible resources but are left pondering how to quantify something as abstract as intelligence.

While energy consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours and water in liters, the challenge remains that intelligence is intangible and does not have a standardized unit of measurement. Altman's vision of positioning Open AI as an infrastructure company, alongside being a significant consumer of resources for its AI model training, complicates this vision further. The question of measurement is crucial since it could determine how intelligence services might be priced and sold in the future.

The implications of successfully establishing a metric for intelligence are vast, touching on issues from regulatory frameworks, competition in the AI sector, and ethical considerations. If intelligence could be quantified, it might democratize access, but it raises concerns about commodifying cognitive abilities and creating inequalities. As the dialogue around measuring intelligence continues, it will be essential for stakeholders in both the tech and infrastructure sectors to collaboratively explore how this innovative concept can be pragmatically realized.