OpenAI’s Desperate PR Stunt: Partnering with US AI Safety Institute to whitewash its AI “Abuses”
In a latest move to salvage its tarnished reputation, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced an agreement with the US AI Safety Institute to provide early access to its next generation AI model for “safety testing.” Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, not so fast. The devil is in the details, and it looks like OpenAI is using its influence to shape the narrative around its handling of AI safety.
AI Ethics? What AI Ethics?
Remember when OpenAI disarmed its AI safety team and allegedly cast aside safety research in favor of launching new products? Yeah, that was pretty shameful. But hey, OpenAI promises to dedicate 20% of its compute to safety research while quietly staffing the safety commission with its own company insiders, including Altman. The revolving door of AI ethics experts?
Regulatory Capture or Just a Coincidence?
The timing of this deal is suspicious, to say the least. OpenAI endorsed a proposed Senate bill that would authorize the AI Safety Institute, essentially giving itself the reins to shape AI policy at the federal level. And with Altman already part of the Department of Homeland Security’s AI Safety and Security Board, OpenAI’s influence on AI policy has been amplified. Coincidence? We think not.
Whispers of Regulatory Capture and Whistleblower Suppresssion
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s AI Safety Institute is housed within the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Just a few weeks ago, we reported on OpenAI’s egregious whistleblower suppression tactics, including restricting employees from speaking out against AI safety concerns. It looks like this deal is an attempt to deflect from those allegations and solidify its grip on AI policy.
More smoke and mirrors from OpenAI?
The AI Safety Institute consists of a consortium of companies, including AI startups like Anthropic and the biggest tech firms in the industry. How does this partnership benefit the public, again? One thing is clear: OpenAI will stop at nothing to ensure its lucrative AI business interests stay untainted by accountability. Stay vigilant, folks, this is just the beginning of AI-geddon!
