Key Points:
- OpenAI established a committee led by CEO Sam Altman and board members to oversee the safety of the AI model.
- The move addresses concerns about the safety of powerful generative AI technologies.
- It marks OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit-like entity to a more commercial entity to streamline product development and maintain accountability.
- The committee will review and enhance safety practices over 90 days, share recommendations with the board, and then provide a public update.
OpenAI has announced the formation of a Safety and Security Committee as it embarks on training for its next artificial intelligence model. This new committee, which CEO Sam Altman will lead alongside board members Bret Taylor, Adam D’Angelo, and Nicole Seligman, aims to address growing concerns surrounding the safety and security of AI technologies. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a company blog post.
OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has gained significant attention for its chatbots, which are equipped with generative AI capabilities. These AI systems can engage in human-like conversations and create images based on text prompts, but their increasing power has raised alarm among experts and the public about potential safety risks.
The primary responsibility of the new committee is to make safety and security recommendations to OpenAI’s board of directors. This initiative marks a strategic shift for OpenAI, as noted by D.A. Davidson managing director Gil Luria. “A new safety committee signifies OpenAI completing a move to becoming a commercial entity, from a more undefined non-profit-like entity,” Luria said. “That should help streamline product development while maintaining accountability.”
This development follows significant changes within OpenAI’s leadership. Earlier this month, former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, leaders of OpenAI’s Superalignment team, left the company. The team, established less than a year ago to ensure AI systems remain aligned with their intended objectives, was disbanded in May. According to a report by CNBC, some team members have been reassigned to other groups within the company.
The new committee’s immediate task will be to evaluate and enhance OpenAI’s safety practices over the next 90 days. Following this evaluation, the committee will present its recommendations to the board. After the board reviews these recommendations, OpenAI plans to share an update on the adopted measures publicly.
The committee includes newly appointed Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki and Matt Knight, head of security. Their expertise will be crucial in guiding OpenAI through the complexities of developing advanced AI models while ensuring safety and security standards are upheld.
As OpenAI transitions towards a more structured commercial entity, establishing the Safety and Security Committee represents a commitment to responsible AI development. This move is expected to balance the rapid pace of AI innovation with necessary safeguards to protect users and society from potential risks.
