The Nonlinear Library LW - OpenAI: The Board Expands by Zvi
Mar 12, 2024
44:41
Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: OpenAI: The Board Expands, published by Zvi on March 12, 2024 on LessWrong.
It is largely over.
The investigation into events has concluded, finding no wrongdoing anywhere.
The board has added four new board members, including Sam Altman. There will still be further additions.
Sam Altman now appears firmly back in control of OpenAI.
None of the new board members have been previously mentioned on this blog, or known to me at all.
They are mysteries with respect to AI. As far as I can tell, all three lack technical understanding of AI and have no known prior opinions or engagement on topics of AI, AGI and AI safety of any kind including existential risk.
Microsoft and investors indeed so far have came away without a seat. They also, however, lack known strong bonds to Altman, so this is not obviously a board fully under his control if there were to be another crisis. They now have the gravitas the old board lacked. One could reasonably expect the new board to be concerned with 'AI Ethics' broadly construed in a way that could conflict with Altman, or with diversity, equity and inclusion.
One must also remember that the public is very concerned about AI existential risk when the topic is brought up, so 'hire people with other expertise that have not looked at AI in detail yet' does not mean the new board members will dismiss such concerns, although it could also be that they were picked because they don't care. We will see.
Prior to the report summary and board expansion announcements, The New York Times put out an article leaking potentially key information, in ways that looked like an advance leak from at least one former board member, claiming that Mira Murati and Ilya Sutskever were both major sources of information driving the board to fire Sam Altman, while not mentioning other concerns. Mira Murati has strongly denied these claims and has the publicly expressed confidence and thanks of Sam Altman.
I continue to believe that my previous assessments of what happened were broadly accurate, with new events providing additional clarity. My assessments were centrally offered in OpenAI: The Battle of the Board, which outlines my view of what happened. Other information is also in OpenAI: Facts From a Weekend and OpenAI: Altman Returns.
This post covers recent events, completing the story arc for now. There remain unanswered questions, in particular what will ultimately happen with Ilya Sutskever, and the views and actions of the new board members. We will wait and see.
The New Board
The important question, as I have said from the beginning, is: Who is the new board?
We have the original three members, plus four more. Sam Altman is one very solid vote for Sam Altman. Who are the other three?
We're announcing three new members to our Board of Directors as a first step towards our commitment to expansion: Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nicole Seligman, former EVP and General Counsel at Sony Corporation and Fidji Simo, CEO and Chair of Instacart. Additionally, Sam Altman, CEO, will rejoin the OpenAI Board of Directors.
Sue, Nicole and Fidji have experience in leading global organizations and navigating complex regulatory environments, including backgrounds in technology, nonprofit and board governance. They will work closely with current board members Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers and Bret Taylor as well as Sam and OpenAI's senior management.
Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI board, stated, "I am excited to welcome Sue, Nicole, and Fidji to the OpenAI Board of Directors. Their experience and leadership will enable the Board to oversee OpenAI's growth, and to ensure that we pursue OpenAI's mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity."
Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann is a non-profit leader and physician. ...
It is largely over.
The investigation into events has concluded, finding no wrongdoing anywhere.
The board has added four new board members, including Sam Altman. There will still be further additions.
Sam Altman now appears firmly back in control of OpenAI.
None of the new board members have been previously mentioned on this blog, or known to me at all.
They are mysteries with respect to AI. As far as I can tell, all three lack technical understanding of AI and have no known prior opinions or engagement on topics of AI, AGI and AI safety of any kind including existential risk.
Microsoft and investors indeed so far have came away without a seat. They also, however, lack known strong bonds to Altman, so this is not obviously a board fully under his control if there were to be another crisis. They now have the gravitas the old board lacked. One could reasonably expect the new board to be concerned with 'AI Ethics' broadly construed in a way that could conflict with Altman, or with diversity, equity and inclusion.
One must also remember that the public is very concerned about AI existential risk when the topic is brought up, so 'hire people with other expertise that have not looked at AI in detail yet' does not mean the new board members will dismiss such concerns, although it could also be that they were picked because they don't care. We will see.
Prior to the report summary and board expansion announcements, The New York Times put out an article leaking potentially key information, in ways that looked like an advance leak from at least one former board member, claiming that Mira Murati and Ilya Sutskever were both major sources of information driving the board to fire Sam Altman, while not mentioning other concerns. Mira Murati has strongly denied these claims and has the publicly expressed confidence and thanks of Sam Altman.
I continue to believe that my previous assessments of what happened were broadly accurate, with new events providing additional clarity. My assessments were centrally offered in OpenAI: The Battle of the Board, which outlines my view of what happened. Other information is also in OpenAI: Facts From a Weekend and OpenAI: Altman Returns.
This post covers recent events, completing the story arc for now. There remain unanswered questions, in particular what will ultimately happen with Ilya Sutskever, and the views and actions of the new board members. We will wait and see.
The New Board
The important question, as I have said from the beginning, is: Who is the new board?
We have the original three members, plus four more. Sam Altman is one very solid vote for Sam Altman. Who are the other three?
We're announcing three new members to our Board of Directors as a first step towards our commitment to expansion: Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nicole Seligman, former EVP and General Counsel at Sony Corporation and Fidji Simo, CEO and Chair of Instacart. Additionally, Sam Altman, CEO, will rejoin the OpenAI Board of Directors.
Sue, Nicole and Fidji have experience in leading global organizations and navigating complex regulatory environments, including backgrounds in technology, nonprofit and board governance. They will work closely with current board members Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers and Bret Taylor as well as Sam and OpenAI's senior management.
Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI board, stated, "I am excited to welcome Sue, Nicole, and Fidji to the OpenAI Board of Directors. Their experience and leadership will enable the Board to oversee OpenAI's growth, and to ensure that we pursue OpenAI's mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity."
Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann is a non-profit leader and physician. ...