Tag Archives: testify

Former OpenAI employee who blew the whistle dies, was set to testify for the company

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Suthir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower, revealed that he played a role in training the artificial intelligence system powering ChatGPT. He later expressed concerns that these actions breached copyright laws. His passing was announced by his parents and San Francisco officials, stating that he was 26 years old.

Working at OpenAI for almost four years until his retirement in August, Balaji was highly esteemed by his colleagues. Co-founders described him as one of the strongest contributors to OpenAI, crucial for the development of its products.

OpenAI released a statement expressing their devastation upon learning of Balaji’s death, extending sympathy to his loved ones during this challenging time.

Balaji was discovered deceased in his San Francisco residence on November 26, with authorities suspecting suicide. Initial investigations found no evidence of foul play, as confirmed by the city’s Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

His parents, Poornima Rama Rao and Balaji Ramamurthy, continued seeking answers, remembering their son as a happy, intelligent, and courageous individual who enjoyed hiking and had recently returned from a trip with friends.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Balaji studied computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. Joining OpenAI initially for a summer internship in 2018, he later returned to create WebGPT, a project instrumental in the development of ChatGPT.

Remembered for his essential contributions to OpenAI projects, Balaji’s meticulous nature and problem-solving skills were praised by co-founder John Schulman. Balaji’s involvement in training GPT-4 opened discussions about copyright concerns within the AI research field.

Balaji’s stance on copyright infringement, detailed in interviews with media outlets, raised eyebrows within the AI community. Despite mixed reactions, he remained steadfast in his beliefs about the ethical implications of using data without proper authorization.

His decision to leave OpenAI was influenced by internal conflicts and his desire to explore alternative methods for building artificial general intelligence. Memorial services are scheduled later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California.

In the US, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for crisis support. In the UK and Ireland, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123 or via email. Australian crisis support services can be reached at 13 11 14. International helplines are available at befrienders.org

The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing agreement granting OpenAI access to certain AP text archives.

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs Call on Elon Musk to Testify about X’s Involvement in UK Summer Riots | Social Media Involvement

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MPs in a parliamentary inquiry into the UK riots and the proliferation of false and harmful AI content are set to call on Elon Musk to testify about X’s role in spreading disinformation, as reported by The Guardian.

Additionally, senior executives from Meta and TikTok, the companies behind Facebook and Instagram, are expected to be summoned for questioning as part of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee’s social media inquiry.

The first public hearing is scheduled for the new year, amidst concerns that current online safety laws in Britain are at risk of being outpaced by advancing technology and the politicization of platforms like X.

Images shared on Facebook and X were reportedly used to incite Islamophobic protests following the tragic deaths of three schoolgirls in Southport in August. The inquiry aims to investigate the impact of generative AI and examine Silicon Valley’s business models that facilitate the spread of misleading and potentially harmful content.

The Chairman of the Labour Party Select Committee, Chi Onwura, expressed interest in questioning Musk about his stance on freedom of expression and disinformation. Musk, the owner of X, has been critical of the UK government and was not invited to an international investment summit in September.

Former Labour Secretary Peter Mandelson has called for an end to Musk’s feud with the British government, emphasizing the importance of not overlooking Musk’s influence in the technological and commercial space.

Despite speculation, it remains uncertain whether Musk will testify in the UK, as he is reportedly gearing up for a senior role in President Trump’s White House. Amidst these developments, millions of X users are said to have migrated to a new platform called Bluesky, raising concerns about misinformation and the presence of previously banned users.

The investigation also aims to explore the connection between social media algorithms, generative AI, and the dissemination of false or harmful content. Additionally, the use of AI to complement search engines, such as Google, will be scrutinized in light of recent instances of false and racist claims propagated on online platforms.

In response to the spread of misinformation and incitement after the Southport killings, Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has highlighted the need for social media companies to address activity that incites violence or promotes false behavior. New rules under the Online Safety Act will require companies to take action to prevent the spread of illegal content and minimize security risks.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk to Testify Again in SEC Investigation of Twitter Takeover

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Elon Musk has been ordered to testify again as part of a U.S. regulatory investigation into his 2022 acquisition of social media platform Twitter (later renamed X).

A California federal court ruling announced on Saturday ordered Tesla and SpaceX chiefs to issue financial statements regarding the date, time and location of interviews after Musk refused to appear at a previous roundtable meeting in September. It gave the company one week to reach an agreement with the Exchange Commission (SEC).

In order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler Although the parties had agreed on an initial date, “the defendant (Musk) ultimately failed to appear in court and was subpoenaed on the basis that the SEC's investigation was baseless and harassing, seeking irrelevant information.” “I am resisting,” he said.

The SEC filed charges against Musk in October to compel him to testify as part of its investigation into the $44 billion acquisition now known as X. The committee is also seeking testimony from Musk about whether he complied with the law in preparing the required documents regarding his Twitter stock. Including the purchase, as well as whether his statements regarding the purchase of the platform were accurate.

According to the order, Musk's lawyers said he would not appear in court because regulators leaked information to the media. Musk's team also claims the investigation is frivolous, and the government's actions have been plagued by requests for documents and repeated requests for testimony in the face of the investigation “arising from an accidental delay in filing administrative filings.” said.

Beeler denied the allegations in pressing for an interview, saying regulators had the power to issue subpoenas for relevant information. If the SEC and Mr. Musk cannot agree on a date and time for the meeting, Mr. Bieler said he will listen to both sides and make a decision.

The move dates back to Musk's infamous 2018 tweet in which he said “funding is secured” as he tried to take Tesla private.

Regulators argued this was a violation of securities laws that prohibit publicly traded companies from announcing plans to buy or sell securities if executives do not intend to complete, do not have the means to complete, or seek to manipulate stock prices. .

In the settlement, Musk agreed to let Tesla's lawyers review his tweets about the electric car maker. But regulators again sued him a year later for allegedly violating the agreement. Musk later petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the agreement, arguing that it violated his right to free speech.

In 2022, regulators asked Musk for information about a delay in disclosing his Twitter stock, but Musk was delayed by a week. He testified twice that year, according to the SEC. Musk claims that the third interview constitutes “harassment” by the government.

This controversy is not the only conflict between Mr. Musk and the government. In November, he lost a bid to prevent the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from continuing to oversee Company X's handling of personal user data.

Musk called for action from government agencies “This is a shameful incident in which a government agency is weaponized for political purposes and the truth is covered up!”

Source: www.theguardian.com