OpenAI CEO Defends AI Safety Amid Controversy and Departure of Risk Mitigation Team

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has spoken up in defense of the safety of the company's AI technology, attempting to allay mounting concerns over potential risks and the absence of proper safeguards for ChatGPT-style AI systems. Altman made these remarks at a Microsoft event in Seattle, where he addressed developers amidst a fresh controversy involving an OpenAI AI voice that bore a striking resemblance to that of actress Scarlett Johansson.

Sam Altman, who gained global prominence after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, is facing a growing number of questions regarding the safety of the company's AI, especially following the departure of the team responsible for managing long-term AI risks.

Encouragement to Developers

Altman advised developers seeking to utilize OpenAI's technology to seize the present opportunity, emphasizing that this is a unique time to forge ahead with their plans rather than delaying or waiting for the next big breakthrough.

OpenAI is closely aligned with Microsoft and offers the foundational technology, particularly the GPT-4 large language model, for constructing AI tools. Microsoft has been actively promoting the adoption of generative AI's capabilities, rolling out new products and encouraging users to leverage the potential of AI.

Altman expressed confidence in the robustness and safety of GPT-4, despite acknowledging that it is not flawless. He stressed that OpenAI has invested a substantial amount of effort to ensure the safety of its models by making them robust and reliable for a diverse range of applications.

Controversial Decisions at OpenAI

However, concerns about OpenAI's dedication to safety resurfaced when the company disbanded its "superalignment" team, which was dedicated to mitigating the long-term risks associated with AI. The departure of team co-leader Jan Leike, who criticized OpenAI for prioritizing the development of new products over safety, brought this issue to the forefront.

Furthermore, a recent public statement from Scarlett Johansson expressed her dismay over a voice, named "Sky," used by OpenAI's ChatGPT, which bore similarities to her voice in the movie "Her" from 2013. The controversy escalated when OpenAI introduced the more human-like GPT-4o model featuring the contentious voice. In response, Altman issued a brief apology to Johansson, asserting that the voice was not based on hers.

As the debate over the safety of OpenAI's AI technology intensifies, the company continues to face scrutiny and challenges in addressing the concerns raised by critics and the public alike.