OpenAI responds to US lawmakers’ concerns

The company pledged to allocate 20% of its computing resources to safety research and not to enforce restrictive non-disparagement agreements on employees, barring specific mutual contracts.
OpenAI is raising funds at a $150 billion valuation, marking a 74% increase from earlier this year.

OpenAI has assured US lawmakers it is committed to safely deploying its AI tools. The ChatGPT’s owner decided to address US officials after concerns were raised by five senators, including Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, regarding the company’s safety practices. In response, OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, emphasised the company’s mission to ensure AI benefits all of humanity and highlighted the rigorous safety protocols they implement at every stage of their process.

Over multiple years, OpenAI pledged to allocate 20% of its computing resources to safety-related research. The company also stated that it would no longer enforce non-disparagement agreements for current and former employees, addressing concerns about previously restrictive policies. On social media, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, shared that the company is collaborating with the US AI Safety Institute to provide early access to their next foundation model to advance AI evaluation science.

Kwon mentioned the recent establishment of a safety and security committee, which is currently reviewing OpenAI’s processes and policies. The review is part of a broader effort to address the controversies OpenAI has faced regarding its commitment to safety and the ability of employees to voice their concerns.

Recent resignations from key members of OpenAI’s safety teams, including co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, have highlighted internal concerns. Leike, in particular, has publicly criticised the company for prioritising product development over safety, underscoring the ongoing debate within the organisation about its approach to balancing innovation with security.