Former employees of OpenAI are urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings to block the company’s plan to transfer control of its artificial intelligence technology from a nonprofit charity to a for-profit business. The employees are concerned that this change could lead to the technology being developed without adequate safeguards, posing risks to humanity.
The group, led by Page Hedley, includes three Nobel Prize winners and other experts in the field. They argue that OpenAI’s mission to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) for humanity’s benefit is at risk if the company becomes a for-profit entity. The employees claim that the new structure will prioritize profits over public interest and lead to a loss of accountability.
OpenAI has responded by stating that its for-profit subsidiary will be a public benefit corporation, designed to ensure the broader public can benefit from AI. However, former workers dispute this claim, citing concerns about safety testing and product releases being rushed to meet business competitors.
The letter is the second petition this month, following a similar plea from labor leaders and nonprofits focused on protecting OpenAI’s charitable assets. The employees are worried that the “stop-and-assist clause” in OpenAI’s nonprofit charter, which requires the company to stand down and help if another organization approaches AGI, could be lost with the conversion to a for-profit.
The debate highlights conflicts over OpenAI’s purpose, including Musk’s lawsuit against the company and its co-founder Sam Altman. The employees are divided on whether to support Musk’s lawsuit or not, but they agree that OpenAI’s mission is at risk if it becomes a for-profit entity.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/openai-workers-california-delaware-ags-block-profit-conversion-121075453