We all remember the controversy that ensued at the OpenAI office last year. And now, it seems like another one is on its way. OpenAI is opposing the AI bill, SB 1047 which has been proposed by the state of California. This bill aims to implement safety protocols for artificial intelligence. Now, this denial by OpenAI is facing some backlash from former OpenAI researchers William Saunders and Daniel Kokotajlo.
In a letter Saunders and Kokotajlo said, “We joined OpenAI because we wanted to ensure the safety of the incredibly powerful AI systems the company is developing. But we resigned from OpenAI because we lost trust that it would safely, honestly, and responsibly develop its AI systems.” They further added that the advanced AI models that OpenAI develops will pose significant threats to the public if adequate safety measures are not implemented.
Sometime back, OpenAI was in the news over a similar controversy. If reports are to be believed, the company rushed to launch GPT-4.0 to stay ahead of the game and the invites were sent out even before the testing began. As per Saunders and Kokotajlo, under Altman’s leadership, the company prioritised rapid releases over comprehensive safety processes.
They even warned that if the company continues to develop AI without strict guidelines then it can have serious repercussions. Now the issue here is that Altman has publicly advocated for AI regulations but the researchers claim that these statements from his end are not that true. They said, “When actual regulation is on the table, he opposes it.”
But OpenAI has denied any of these claims. In a statement given to Business Insider, they said, “We strongly disagree with the mischaracterization of our position on SB 1047.” Let’s see if this bill will be passed and if OpenAI will adopt it.