Amidst all the talk of buying and selling OpenAI, the company seems to be making changes to make itself more appealing. Reportedly, OpenAI is changing how it trains AI models to explicitly embrace “intellectual freedom … no matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be,” the company noted in a new policy.
OpenAI and their vastly successful AI model ChatGPT have found themselves mired in lawsuits for copyright infringement from a number of media houses and publications, which the company has unsuccessfully tried to shoo away.
READ: AI and the media: Transforming content, distribution, and editorial leadership (December 10, 2024)
But now, it seems that Sam Altman, head honcho at OpenAI wants to endear himself to the Trump administration which is now seemingly under the influence of Elon Musk, who recently has become one of Altman’s most vocal critics. Musk has even made a consortium bid to purchase OpenAI.
Several close allies of President Donald Trump, including Musk and tech investor David Sacks, have accused AI-powered assistants of censoring conservative viewpoints, according to Tech Crunch. Sacks, a prominent figure in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, has specifically criticized OpenAI’s ChatGPT, claiming it is “programmed to be woke” and misrepresents politically sensitive topics.
These factors may have contributed to OpenAI’s pivot. Reportedly, on Feb. 12, OpenAI announced an update to its Model Spec, a 187-page document that lays out how the company trains AI models to behave. In it, OpenAI unveiled a new guiding principle for the AI assistants: To not lie, either by making untrue statements or by omitting important context.
“This principle may be controversial, as it means the assistant may remain neutral on topics some consider morally wrong or offensive,” OpenAI says in the spec. “However, the goal of an AI assistant is to assist humanity, not to shape it.”
OpenAI overview
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research organization that focuses on creating and promoting friendly AI. Its mission is to ensure that AI benefits all of humanity. OpenAI develops cutting-edge AI models, like GPT-3 and GPT-4, which are capable of tasks such as natural language processing, image generation, and problem-solving.
The organization aims to align AI systems with human values and ensure safety as AI becomes more powerful. OpenAI works with various partners and aims to advance AI through research, open collaboration, and ethical practices, while ensuring the technology is accessible and beneficial to society at large.