Introduction to OpenAI
At the time, few people beyond the insular world of AI research knew about OpenAI. But as a reporter at MIT Technology Review covering the ever-expanding boundaries of artificial intelligence, I had been following its movements closely.
The Early Days of OpenAI
Until that year, OpenAI had been something of a stepchild in AI research. It had an outlandish premise that AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) could be attained within a decade, when most non-OpenAI experts doubted it could be attained at all. To much of the field, it had an obscene amount of funding despite little direction and spent too much of the money on marketing what other researchers frequently snubbed as unoriginal research. It was, for some, also an object of envy. As a nonprofit, it had said that it had no intention to chase commercialization. It was a rare intellectual playground without strings attached, a haven for fringe ideas.
A Shift in Trajectory
But in the six months leading up to my visit, the rapid slew of changes at OpenAI signaled a major shift in its trajectory. First was its confusing decision to withhold GPT-2 and brag about it. Then its announcement that Sam Altman, who had mysteriously departed his influential perch at YC, would step in as OpenAI’s CEO with the creation of its new “capped-profit” structure. I had already made my arrangements to visit the office when it subsequently revealed its deal with Microsoft, which gave the tech giant priority for commercializing OpenAI’s technologies and locked it into exclusively using Azure, Microsoft’s cloud-computing platform.
Growing Attention and Controversy
Each new announcement garnered fresh controversy, intense speculation, and growing attention, beginning to reach beyond the confines of the tech industry. As my colleagues and I covered the company’s progression, it was hard to grasp the full weight of what was happening. What was clear was that OpenAI was beginning to exert meaningful sway over AI research and the way policymakers were learning to understand the technology. The lab’s decision to revamp itself into a partially for-profit business would have ripple effects across its spheres of influence in industry and government.
A Glimpse into OpenAI
So late one night, with the urging of my editor, I dashed off an email to Jack Clark, OpenAI’s policy director, whom I had spoken with before: I would be in town for two weeks, and it felt like the right moment in OpenAI’s history. Could I interest them in a profile? Clark passed me on to the communications head, who came back with an answer. OpenAI was indeed ready to reintroduce itself to the public. I would have three days to interview leadership and embed inside the company.
Meeting the Leadership
Brockman and I settled into a glass meeting room with the company’s chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever. Sitting side by side at a long conference table, they each played their part. Brockman, the coder and doer, leaned forward, a little on edge, ready to make a good impression; Sutskever, the researcher and philosopher, settled back into his chair, relaxed and aloof.
The Mission of OpenAI
I opened my laptop and scrolled through my questions. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure beneficial AGI, I began. Why spend billions of dollars on this problem and not something else? Brockman nodded vigorously. He was used to defending OpenAI’s position. “The reason that we care so much about AGI and that we think it’s important to build is because we think it can help solve complex problems that are just out of reach of humans,” he said.
Conclusion
OpenAI’s journey is a fascinating story of innovation, controversy, and growth. As the company continues to evolve and shape the future of artificial intelligence, it’s essential to understand its mission, values, and goals. By exploring the inner workings of OpenAI, we can gain a deeper understanding of the potential benefits and risks of AGI and its impact on our world.
FAQs
- Q: What is OpenAI?
A: OpenAI is a research organization that aims to develop and promote artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits humanity. - Q: What is AGI?
A: AGI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that can perform any intellectual task that a human can. - Q: Why is OpenAI important?
A: OpenAI is important because it has the potential to solve complex problems that are currently out of reach for humans, and its research and development can shape the future of artificial intelligence. - Q: What is the controversy surrounding OpenAI?
A: OpenAI has been surrounded by controversy due to its rapid growth, significant funding, and decisions such as withholding GPT-2 and partnering with Microsoft. - Q: What is the mission of OpenAI?
A: OpenAI’s mission is to ensure beneficial AGI, which means developing AGI that is safe, transparent, and aligned with human values.
