A former senior OpenAI employee reveals that the company’s focus on developing ChatGPT prioritizes products over safety, leading to his departure after reaching a breaking point of disagreements over key objectives.
Jan Leike, previously a leading safety researcher and Co-Director of Super Alignment at OpenAI, aimed to ensure that advanced AI systems uphold human values and objectives. His departure precedes the World Artificial Intelligence Summit in Seoul, where discussions on technology oversight are expected.
Reich stepped down following the release of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s latest AI model. His resignation follows that of Ilya Sutskeva, the co-founder and Co-Director of Super Alignment, marking the exit of two senior safety executives in one week.
In a post shared on Friday, Reich explained his resignation, highlighting the diminishing emphasis on safety culture within the company.
He expressed concern that safety processes had been sidelined in favor of flashy products in recent years.
Yesterday was my last day as Head of Alignment, Super Alignment Lead, and Executive @OpenAI.
— Jan Leike (@janleike) May 17, 2024
OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits humanity. Reich emphasized the need for the company to allocate more resources to safety, social impact, confidentiality, and security in their forthcoming models.
He raised concerns about the challenges involved in solving these issues and the potential consequences if they are not addressed promptly.
Reich stressed the importance of prioritizing safety in the development of AI systems that surpass human intelligence, stating that OpenAI carries a significant responsibility on behalf of humanity.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged Reich’s concerns and stated the company’s commitment to addressing them.
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Sutskever, the lead scientist at OpenAI, expressed confidence in the company’s ability to develop safe and beneficial AGI under current leadership. He previously supported Altman’s reinstatement as CEO following internal conflicts.
Reich’s warning coincided with an international panel of AI experts releasing a report on advanced AI safety, highlighting concerns about the speed of technological progress outpacing regulatory response.
Source: www.theguardian.com
