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cover of episode Sam Altman is still CEO of Open AI

Sam Altman is still CEO of Open AI

2023/11/29
logo of podcast Most Innovative Companies

Most Innovative Companies

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
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A
Ainsley Harris
J
Josh Christensen
M
Mark Sullivan
P
Poppy McDonald
Y
Yasmin Gagne
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Yasmin Gagne:本期节目讨论了OpenAI首席执行官Sam Altman被董事会解雇后又复职的事件始末,以及事件对公司和行业的影响。该事件在感恩节前夕发生,引发了广泛关注和猜测。 Ainsley Harris:Altman被解雇的消息让OpenAI员工感到震惊和困惑,许多员工在假期期间才得知此事。随后,超过90%的员工签署请愿书,要求恢复Altman的职位,这反映了员工对Altman的支持和对公司未来发展的担忧。Altman本人也在消息发布前几分钟才得知自己被解雇。 Mark Sullivan:Altman被解雇的原因尚不清楚,但可能与AI安全和负责任的AI开发有关。董事会的主要职能之一是在开发可能具有危害性的产品时及时制止。微软作为OpenAI的主要投资者,在事件中扮演了重要角色,为Altman和Brockman提供了工作机会,这可能是为了稳定局势并保护其投资。 此外,OpenAI的组织结构复杂,既包含非营利组织部分,也包含营利性公司部分,这使得公司内部的权力平衡和决策过程变得复杂。投资者的经济利益在公司决策中占据主导地位,这引发了人们对公司使命和未来发展的担忧。 新董事会的组成也引发了争议,全部由男性组成,这可能导致AI技术存在偏见。一些人认为技术人员比非技术人员更了解AI发展,但这种观点存在偏见。 Ainsley Harris:Sam Altman在推动AI商业化方面发挥了重要作用,他被认为是AI领域的领导者,能够与各利益相关者进行沟通。OpenAI员工相信AGI的不可避免性,并认为需要一位能够处理其影响的领导者。 新董事会增加了三位成员:Brett Taylor、Larry Summers和Adam D'Angelo。Adam D'Angelo是最初投票支持解雇Altman的人之一。前董事会成员Helen Toner的离职也与此次事件有关。微软可能获得OpenAI董事会席位。 该事件反映了硅谷对AI工作的态度正在发生转变,人们开始认识到需要更多人文和社会科学领域的专家参与。 Mark Sullivan:OpenAI事件中,研究和安全人员失去了权力,金钱利益正在影响OpenAI。该事件与Facebook的经历类似,都反映了金钱利益对科技公司发展的影响。 新董事会成员的组成反映了金钱利益在公司决策中的主导地位。该事件也引发了人们对AI技术可能存在的偏见和伦理问题的担忧。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The episode discusses the firing and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO of OpenAI, detailing the events leading up to his dismissal and the reactions within the company and from external stakeholders.

Shownotes Transcript

The long-simmering fault lines within OpenAI over questions of safety with regard to the deployment of large language models like GPT, the engine behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Dall-E services, came to a head on November 17 when the organization’s nonprofit board of directors voted to fire CEO Sam Altman. But then he was reinstated on November 22. It’s been a wild ride, but Fast Company senior writers Ainsley Harris and Mark Sullivan joined us to help break down the confusing back and forth at the generative AI company.

For more on the company’s tumultuous activities, check out Ainsley's and Mark's reporting.

“We need to make it a little more snackable, a little bit more bite-size.” USAFacts president Poppy MacDonald explained how she helps make government data more accessible, available, and interactive. Founded and funded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the nonpartisan nonprofit ensures government data is available to the general public. But what about operating in a post-truth world? MacDonald explained they don’t get involved in polling or forecasts, and instead they stick with what the facts are as published by the government. They provide the data and then people—whether an individual, business, or elected leader—decide what they want to do about that data. “We’re really hoping for a healthy debate, but we think a healthy debate about how to move our democracy forward starts with facts.”

For more MIC behind the scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!