Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently spoke at a conference in San Francisco where he stated that he can’t be trusted with AI power. He clarified his statement to say that users should trust OpenAI, but only if the organization continues to fight for regulatory measures and ensures the technology is “governed by humanity”. Altman believes that all powerful technologies can be used in dangerous ways, and AI is no different. He stated that “things will go wrong” and that regulatory measures are necessary to ensure that the technology is governed by humanity.
At the same conference, Altman clarified his thinking about regulations, stating that they shouldn’t govern small startups. Altman also testified before members of a Senate subcommittee and largely agreed with them on the need to regulate the increasingly powerful AI technology being created inside his company and others like Google and Microsoft.
Altman’s appearance before the Senate subcommittee was his christening as the leading figure in AI. He offered a loose framework to manage what happens next with the fast-developing systems that some believe could fundamentally change the economy. Instead of disappearing backstage after the talk, Altman hopped down into the crowd, where he was surrounded by students and journalists.
Sam Altman’s statements about not being trusted with AI power and the need for regulatory measures to govern the technology are important for the future of AI. As the CEO of OpenAI, Altman is leading the way in ensuring that AI is developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner.
