Helen Toner, a former director of OpenAI, announced on the 29th...
Helen Toner, a former director of OpenAI, made a public statement on the 29th, revealing that she was not informed in advance about the release of ChatGPT. She came across the news through Twitter after the launch. ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, was unveiled globally in late November 2022. Toner expressed her dismay at the management's failure to communicate such a significant update to the board of directors.
Toner's Revelation on TED AI Show Podcast
During her appearance on the "TED AI Show" podcast on the same day, Toner stressed the lack of transparency surrounding the launch of ChatGPT. She disclosed that the board was kept in the dark regarding this major development. Toner went on to recount the events that led to the ousting of Sam Altman as the CEO in November of the previous year.
She highlighted that Altman's dismissal was prompted by his perceived disregard for OpenAI's safety protocols and his unchecked investments in various startups without board approval. Toner, along with other board members, including Altman, raised concerns about his actions, citing a lack of transparency and honesty on his part. Toner specifically mentioned Altman's failure to disclose the company's involvement in startup funding and his misleading statements about the organization's safety procedures.
Response from OpenAI Board Chair
In response to Toner's remarks, Brett Taylor, the current chair of the OpenAI board, expressed disappointment over Toner revisiting past issues. Taylor clarified that the decision to part ways with Altman was not related to concerns about product safety, development pace, financial matters, investor relations, customer engagement, or communication with business partners.
It is essential to note that the views and statements provided in this article are based on public disclosures and statements made by the involved parties.
