Investigating OpenAI: The Company Behind ChatGPT
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is one of the world’s most renowned and secretive companies working towards developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) that could match or surpass human cognitive abilities across various tasks. Investigative journalist Karen Hao joins Ali Rogin on PBS NewsHour to discuss her new book, “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI.”
The Early Days of OpenAI
Karen Hao was the first journalist to profile OpenAI, embedding within the company for three days in August 2019. Initially introduced as a research nonprofit with lofty goals, OpenAI began shifting away from its nonprofit origins by restructuring to include a for-profit entity within the nonprofit. This change suggested a future commercial intent. Despite executives insisting that the mission remained unchanged – to build AI without commercial interest and for public benefit – Hao discovered a different reality. The company was competitive, secretive, and had clear commercialization plans, particularly after receiving a $1 billion investment from Microsoft.
Sam Altman’s Influence on OpenAI
Karen Hao attributes much of OpenAI’s direction to its CEO, Sam Altman, a product of Silicon Valley’s “growth at all costs” philosophy. Altman’s approach has led OpenAI to adopt an AI development strategy based on massive resource consumption, including training models on the entire internet and exploiting labor. This “zero-sum game” mentality positions OpenAI in an aggressive race against other companies, particularly Chinese entities, to achieve AGI first.
Risks Associated with AI Development
Hao views the current AI paradigm as a significant threat to humanity, not because AI might become rogue or conscious, but due to the unprecedented consolidation of economic and political power in the hands of a few companies. She argues that these companies are becoming “empires” that monopolize knowledge production, exploit labor, and consume vast resources. The greatest risk, Hao warns, is to democracy, as this concentration of power could lead to a loss of agency for most people in determining their future.
The Dark Side of Unfettered AI Growth
While proponents like Sam Altman highlight the benefits of AI, Hao documents numerous problems associated with its unfettered growth. She acknowledges that AI can be beneficial when applied to specific tasks like renewable energy integration, weather prediction, and healthcare. However, the pursuit of artificial general intelligence comes with significant trade-offs, including massive resource consumption and labor exploitation. Hao advocates for a more distributed approach to AI development, focusing on task-specific models that can provide broad-based benefits across various industries.
Conclusion
Karen Hao’s “Empire of AI” offers a critical examination of OpenAI and the broader implications of its mission to achieve artificial general intelligence. By exploring the company’s history, its leadership under Sam Altman, and the potential risks associated with its approach, Hao provides valuable insights into the complex world of AI development and its potential impact on society.
