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505 OpenAI employees threaten to quit and call on the board to resign over Sam Altman’s firing
CNN ^ | 11/20/2023 | Brian Fung

Posted on 11/21/2023 9:10:02 AM PST by unlearner

Hundreds of OpenAI staffers are calling for the resignation of the ChatGPT company’s board, and threatening to quit themselves, after a tumultuous weekend that began with the surprise ouster of CEO Sam Altman and ended with Altman being hired by Microsoft.

In a letter obtained by CNN, the more than 500 employees accused the OpenAI board of mishandling Altman’s firing, failing to provide sufficient evidence for claims that Altman had not been candid with the board, and “negotiating in bad faith” with the company’s executive leadership.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ai; business; chatgpt; openai; samaltman; tech
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I'm surprised how little discussion this received on FR. Sam Altman is one of the most influential people in the world, and OpenAI is probably the fastest-growing company in the history of the world.

It's a good idea to stay in the loop about this.

Altman was abruptly fired by the board last week. After some back and forth, Microsoft (which has a large stake in OpenAI) hired him. This is a big shakeup in a highly disruptive industry.

AI is quickly on its way to bring about greater societal change than the Internet or smartphones.

1 posted on 11/21/2023 9:10:02 AM PST by unlearner
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To: unlearner

Influential and change are two words you could use.

You combine implant and AI technologies and you have an extreme ceiling and a very very low floor for the beneficial and detrimental potentials for human beings


2 posted on 11/21/2023 9:15:21 AM PST by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: unlearner

related story

https://us.cnn.com/2023/11/19/tech/sam-altman-openai-board/index.html


3 posted on 11/21/2023 9:17:21 AM PST by plain talk
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To: unlearner

Agree completely. Where we have AI tools now that help with productivity and quality, generative AI could bring revolutionary change.


4 posted on 11/21/2023 9:20:15 AM PST by Made In The USA (Ellen Ate Dynamite Good Bye Elllen)
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To: unlearner
OpenAI has about 750ish employees, I heard 700 of them said they want to quit. If that's true then that's the end of that company and Microsoft takes over all their research and models, including ChatGPT.

Not sure how I feel about Microsoft ruling the AI world along with NVIDIA.

5 posted on 11/21/2023 9:20:55 AM PST by pepsi_junkie ("We want no Gestapo or Secret Police. F. B. I. is tending in that direction." - Harry S Truman)
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To: unlearner

Skynet does not look kindly on resistance.


6 posted on 11/21/2023 9:22:08 AM PST by xp38
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To: z3n

So true.

For those who are healthy and hale and want their personal freedom unharried by the modern world, this is dystopic.

But if one has substantial health issues and/or disabilities, such programs could be extremely helpful, even lifesaving or at least extending.

When praising or complaining, people should think of both sides.

In my younger days, I shunned such things. Now that I am old, with many chronic health problems, it really looks promising.


7 posted on 11/21/2023 9:27:52 AM PST by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: unlearner

ChatGPT 3.5

User
Is the the OpenAI boardroom a wretched hive of scum and villainy?

ChatGPT
No, the characterization of the OpenAI boardroom as a “wretched hive of scum and villainy” is likely an exaggeration or a reference to a famous line from Star Wars. OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of experts in the field, and its board includes respected individuals in technology and business. Their goal is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. Like any organization, OpenAI may face challenges and discussions, but it is not accurate or fair to describe it in such negative terms. If you have specific concerns or questions about OpenAI, it would be more productive to address them directly or seek information from reliable sources.


8 posted on 11/21/2023 9:31:30 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: Alas Babylon!
In my younger days, I shunned such things. Now that I am old, with many chronic health problems, it really looks promising.

I am getting old, but do not have serious health issues. But so far I fine myself wanting to resist more than I might have decades ago. The main tempering influence is having a wife and children who need me to provide and be around.
9 posted on 11/21/2023 9:32:19 AM PST by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: pepsi_junkie

If I was as unprincipled as Bill Gates, I would sow discord between the board and Sam. Then swoop in to steal the employees on the cheap.


10 posted on 11/21/2023 9:34:44 AM PST by armourenthusiast (I capitalize everything related to South)
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To: pepsi_junkie

They seem to have strayed from the original mission of the company. Converting a non-profit to a for-profit business also seems to be where this internal power struggle originated.

The board members are atypical. They have the power to fire and hire C-suite executives, but they are not employees or shareholders, and they do not receive compensation for serving on the board. I think their main function is to ensure that the AI created by the company is beneficial (and safe, in particular) for humanity.


11 posted on 11/21/2023 9:35:00 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: z3n

“combine implant and AI technologies”

Scary, dystopian stuff. Apocalyptic proportions.


12 posted on 11/21/2023 9:40:12 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: plain talk

Thanks. Saw that. The events are still unfolding in real-time. I think the average person does not grasp how impactful this shakeup will be. All of our personal lives will be directly and significantly impacted by this technology in the immediate future. Who controls it is of the upmost importance.


13 posted on 11/21/2023 9:42:20 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: unlearner

“AI is quickly on its way to bring about greater societal change than the Internet or smartphones.”

You may be correct—and that is absolutely terrifying.

This is like playing with nitro in the basement.


14 posted on 11/21/2023 9:44:18 AM PST by cgbg ("Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training." Anna Freud.)
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To: unlearner
All this drama shows how immature the tech bros are.

Many alternatives including Claude from Anthropic, Mistral, etc.

15 posted on 11/21/2023 9:44:38 AM PST by HonkyTonkMan ( )
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To: Jeff Chandler

Who is the president is Argentina?

ChatGPT: The president of Argentina is Alberto Fernández.


16 posted on 11/21/2023 9:47:34 AM PST by TexasGator
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To: Made In The USA

General-purpose AI (GPAI) and artificial general intelligence (AGI) are on the horizon and will permeate our lives more than smartphones and the Internet, IMO.

I’m planning to begin a doctoral program in AI next year. Because I think the AI revolution is inevitable, I also think getting very involved is the best way to help influence its impact for the better.


17 posted on 11/21/2023 9:48:37 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: pepsi_junkie

“Not sure how I feel about Microsoft ruling the AI world along with NVIDIA.”

We need a big tech breakup. Too much concentrated power.


18 posted on 11/21/2023 9:49:35 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: Alas Babylon!

“Now that I am old, with many chronic health problems, it really looks promising.”

Like most technologies, AI and robotics have tremendous potential for good. They will be misused (already are), but we can choose to use them for things like improving the quality of life for many people.


19 posted on 11/21/2023 9:52:32 AM PST by unlearner (Keep the faith. )
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To: TexasGator

CHATGPT4:

Who won the presidential election in Argentina?

“Searching for: presidential election in Argentina

Generating answers for you…

According to the election results1, Javier Milei of the Liberty Advances party won the presidential election in Argentina. He defeated Sergio Massa of the Union for the Homeland party in a runoff vote on November 19, 2023, with 55.7% of the vote2”


20 posted on 11/21/2023 9:53:35 AM PST by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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