OpenAI's product focus raises concerns about its commitment to safety
OpenAI's developer release on Tuesday of a powerful new speech technology highlights the rapidly changing dynamics within the ChatGPT creator — a shift that some say is putting the release of products above safety concerns.
The big picture:
OpenAI is in the midst of a transformation from a nonprofit lab to an increasingly product-focused company seeking to attract and please investors.
Driving the news:
OpenAI used a developer event in San Francisco on Tuesday to announce several capabilities, the most provocative of which allows developers to make use of the same real-time speech capabilities recently added to ChatGPT.
Zoom in:
The demo highlighted the tantalizing possibilities of AI taking action in the real world — but also prompted a flurry of questions focused on the potential for havoc if the technology were used with malicious intent.
Yes, but: OpenAI said it would enforce its terms of service, which prevent spam and fraud, and noted it could add new rules as needed.
Zoom out:
In the 10 months since the firing and rehiring of Sam Altman, debates about speed and safety within the company have grown louder and more frequent. The product teams seeming to be winning most battles.
State of play:
These debates are taking place amid a massive shift in the structure, personnel, and focus at the San Francisco company.
Between the lines:
The company has grown tremendously, with more than 1,000 employees having joined over the past year.
The other side:
OpenAI, for its part, rejects the idea that safety is taking a back seat. "We are deeply committed to our mission and are proud to release the most capable and safest models in the industry," an OpenAI spokesperson told Axios.
Editor's note: This story's headline has been corrected to say that OpenAI is shifting to for-profit (not nonprofit) status.
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