The Guardian - The real story of the OpenAI debacle is the tyranny of big tech
CJL Director Dr. Courtney Radsch highlights the internal developments of OpenAI and the confrontations between the firm and Microsoft’s poaching practices.
The theatrics of OpenAI’s seeming implosion amid the firing of its CEO and co-founder Sam Altman, Microsoft’s dramatic offer to poach its top executives and staff, and Altman’s triumphant return following the ouster of the board has all the trappings of a Hollywood blockbuster.
But the drama unfolding should put the spotlight on the tyranny of the tech titans that control critical aspects of the AI ecosystem.
OpenAI has developed some of the most advanced large-language models and pioneering artificial-intelligence products, such as the text generator ChatGPT and image generator Dall-E, which have been responsible for making generative AI into a household term and discussion about AI risks into dinnertime conversation.
Although OpenAI is in the spotlight, however, Microsoft has played a leading role in the unfolding drama. Microsoft swooped in to scoop up the ousted executives and create a new AI research division for Altman to lead, with hundreds of staff reportedly ready to follow them. Microsoft said it was ready to hire them all (though they would have probably needed to wait until the new year, when California’s prohibition against non-competes goes into effect) and it has the cash to make good on such a promise.
It turns out Microsoft won’t have to take on the entire cast of characters, since Altman is now set to return to OpenAI under a new board leadership, which should allow Microsoft to keep its privileged relationship without assuming any liability for employee costs or research and development. Either way, it’s a win-win for Microsoft.
Read full article here.