OpenAI establishes a safety and security committee to oversee the training of a new AI model amid growing concerns and controversies surrounding AI technologies. The committee aims to address ethical implications, copyright infringements, and staff departures, signalling a pivotal move towards shaping the future of AI development.
OpenAI Initiates Safety Committee and Begins Training New AI Model
San Francisco, May 28, 2024 – OpenAI has announced the formation of a new safety and security committee as it embarks on training a new artificial intelligence (AI) model to replace its existing GPT-4 technology. The decision comes amid ongoing debates regarding AI safety, particularly after a series of high-profile resignations and criticism from researchers.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will be part of the committee, which also includes Bret Taylor, Chairman; Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora; and Nicole Seligman, a former general counsel at Sony. The new committee aims to guide the board on critical safety and security decisions, undertaking a 90-day review process to further develop and implement these safeguards.
The announcement arrives as OpenAI faces multiple lawsuits and increasing scrutiny over the societal impact and ethical implications of its AI technologies, such as the ChatGPT chatbot and the DALL-E image generator. Among the high-profile departures, Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike have publicly criticized the company for prioritizing product development over safety concerns.
Concurrent with these developments, OpenAI disclosed that it has begun training its next-generation AI model, aimed at advancing toward “AGI” or artificial general intelligence, a concept that envisions AI achieving capabilities on par with the human brain. The organization has promised to publicly release the safety recommendations it adopts post-review.
Additionally, OpenAI is addressing controversies around its AI’s capabilities to generate human-like voice responses and its implications, highlighted by Scarlett Johansson’s recent allegations regarding the misappropriation of her voice likeness.
Background Information
- OpenAI: A leading AI research and deployment company.
- Key Figures: CEO Sam Altman; board members Bret Taylor, Adam D’Angelo, and Nicole Seligman.
- Issues: AI safety, ethical concerns, copyright infringements, and staff departures.
As OpenAI continues to navigate these complex challenges, the formation of the safety committee marks a significant step towards addressing concerns and shaping the future trajectory of AI technologies.
