Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “Godfather of artificial intelligence,” has backed Elon Musk’s legal battle against OpenAI’s decision to switch from a non-profit research lab to a for-profit company. The move comes after OpenAI’s board of directors voted in favor of transforming into a public benefit corporation.
Hinton, who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics, expressed concerns that allowing OpenAI to change its structure would undermine its commitment to prioritizing public safety. He stated that the non-profit model provides essential governance guardrails that would be lost if control were transferred to a for-profit entity.
Musk, co-founder of OpenAI and founder of xAI, a public benefit corporation, argues that OpenAI executives deceived him into co-founding the company with promises of prioritizing safety. Musk’s lawsuit claims that OpenAI breached its non-profit commitment by partnering with Microsoft.
Hinton has previously criticized OpenAI’s safety measures, calling them “unfortunate.” He expressed regret over his role in developing AI technology and highlighted the potential risks it poses to humanity.
The situation has sparked debate within the AI community, with some arguing that a for-profit structure is necessary for OpenAI to secure funding and advance its research. However, others share Musk’s concerns about the potential consequences of prioritizing profits over safety.
As the case unfolds, Hinton’s support for Musk’s fight against OpenAI’s profit shift highlights the growing unease within the AI community about the balance between innovation and responsibility.
Source: https://nypost.com/2024/12/31/business/geoffrey-hinton-backs-elon-musks-legal-battle-against-openai