- Two former OpenAI researchers, who resigned over safety concerns, criticized their former employer’s opposition to California’s AI safety bill, SB 1047.
- OpenAI maintains that AI safety regulations should be implemented at the federal level, while its rival Anthropic supports the bill but suggests amendments.
- The disagreement highlights the growing debate about the role of government regulation in ensuring AI safety.
Two former OpenAI researchers, Daniel Kokotajlo and William Saunders, who resigned earlier this year citing safety concerns, have publicly criticized their former employer’s opposition to California’s landmark AI safety bill, SB 1047.
The researchers, in a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, expressed disappointment but not surprise at OpenAI’s stance, highlighting the company’s apparent “reckless” pursuit of dominance despite calls for regulation from its former CEO, Sam Altman.
“Now, when actual regulation is on the table, he opposes it,” the researchers write, urging Newsom to sign the bill. “With appropriate regulation, we hope OpenAI may yet live up to its mission statement of building AGI safely.”
OpenAI, in a statement to TechCrunch, rejected the characterization of its position on SB 1047, arguing that “frontier AI safety regulations should be implemented at the federal level because of their implications for national security and competitiveness.”
While OpenAI opposes the bill, its rival, Anthropic, has expressed support for SB 1047, proposing specific amendments. Several of these amendments have been incorporated into the bill, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stating that the bill’s “benefits likely outweigh its costs.”
This public debate highlights the growing tension surrounding AI safety and the role of government regulation. While OpenAI and Anthropic have differing stances, the call for responsible AI development continues to be a major theme, underscoring the urgency of ensuring that AI advancements are guided by ethical considerations and safety measures.
What you should know
OpenAI is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) research and deployment company that has made significant strides in developing and advancing the field of AI. Founded in 2015 by a group of prominent tech entrepreneurs and investors, including Elon Musk and Sam Altman, OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity.
OpenAI is known for its groundbreaking work in developing large language models (LLMs), including GPT-3 and its successor, GPT-4. These models are capable of generating human-quality text, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content, and answering your questions in an informative way. OpenAI’s work has pushed the boundaries of what AI can achieve, sparking both excitement and concern about the potential impact of these powerful tools.
OpenAI continues to be a key player in the AI landscape, driving innovation and shaping the future of the field. While its work has garnered both praise and criticism, its focus on responsible AI development and its commitment to ensuring that AI benefits all of humanity remain central to its mission.
