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Two months after being fired by the OpenAI nonprofit board — only to be rehired a few days later — CEO Sam Altman appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with a significantly more subdued perspective on artificial general intelligence (AGI). During his conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, he noted that the consensus on what AGI means is fading. He suggested that once AGI is developed, there might be a brief societal upheaval, but then life will resume as usual.
Altman described AGI as a “surprisingly continuous thing,” emphasizing that advancements are incremental, with each yearly model improving upon the last. Previously, during a Bloomberg event, he predicted that AGI might emerge in the near future but downplayed its potential impact on the world and employment.
Back in February 2023, Altman had expressed concerns in a blog post about the potential dangers of misaligned superintelligent AGI, warning of the grievous harm it could cause. He also mentioned the significant strides AI could contribute to humanity, such as boosting the economy and enhancing scientific discovery.
Despite his earlier, more dramatic views on AGI, Altman’s recent comments reflect a tempered approach, particularly against the backdrop of the economic focus at Davos. This shift comes after the OpenAI board, which was once primarily concerned with controlling the dangers of AGI, was significantly altered due to the controversy surrounding Altman’s temporary dismissal.
According to VentureBeat, OpenAI’s charter entrusts the nonprofit board with deciding when AGI is achieved, which would limit its commercial agreements with Microsoft to pre-AGI technologies. With the recent board changes, only Adam D’Angelo remains from the original non-employee directors, while new members, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, have joined. Microsoft’s role in OpenAI now includes a nonvoting board seat.
During the Davos discussion, Beddoes questioned the implications of OpenAI’s unchanged charter. Altman responded by explaining that the board would convene to reassess commercial terms as necessary, depending on how developments unfold. Nadella added that partnerships need to be regulated to enhance the benefits of AGI and mitigate unintended consequences, acknowledging increasing global interest from governments and civil society.
In response to concerns about unpredictability from the OpenAI board, Altman humorously referenced the recent tumultuous events as an early lesson in managing expectations.
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