Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI, has joined the government's Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board, along with other tech leaders including Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Northrop Grumman's Kathy Warden, and Delta's Ed Bastian. The board was created as part of an executive order by the Biden administration to regulate AI development and will advise the Department of Homeland Security on the safe deployment of AI in critical infrastructure. It will also develop recommendations for power grid operators, transportation service providers, and manufacturing plants to protect against potential threats. The tech leaders are expected to provide guidance that serves the mission of the board and not primarily their own businesses [cc02e3c5].
Altman's appointment to the AI safety board comes after his reinstatement to the board of directors at OpenAI. Altman was previously removed from the board but was later reinstated following an external investigation that found his removal to be unwarranted. Altman expressed his excitement about the future of OpenAI and his gratitude for the team's resilience. He acknowledged the need for changes in OpenAI's governance structure but emphasized that it will take time to implement them [3c656239] [a3b4ccb9].
OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research lab, has been facing increased competition from Microsoft, Meta, and other startups. The company is also facing legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk and The New York Times. Musk accuses Altman and top executives of betraying the original nonprofit status of the company, while The New York Times alleges that OpenAI illegally used its articles to train models without payment or permission [610f951b].
Despite these challenges, Altman expressed his optimism about the future of OpenAI and his appreciation for the team's resilience. He acknowledged the need for changes in the company's governance structure but noted that implementing these changes will take time. Altman's return to the board is a significant development in the leadership of OpenAI and demonstrates a commitment to addressing the concerns raised by employees [3c656239] [a3b4ccb9].
In addition to his involvement with OpenAI and the AI safety board, Altman is known for his co-founding of Loopt, his role as president of Y Combinator, and his passion for technology, science, and innovation. Altman is also involved in philanthropic and social causes [a3b4ccb9].