OpenAI Asserts Commitment to Diversity with Efforts from White Male Leaders ‘Bret, Larry, and Adam’

OpenAI Asserts Commitment to Diversity with Efforts from White Male Leaders ‘Bret, Larry, and Adam’

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In a blog post yesterday, OpenAI introduced its new board of directors. CEO Sam Altman mentioned that Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo would be focusing on building a board with diverse perspectives, improving the governance structure, and overseeing a review of recent events. Currently, the board comprises former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor, economist Larry Summers, and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, with a non-voting observer seat for Microsoft, OpenAI’s major partner and investor.

The removal of OpenAI’s two female board members did not go unnoticed. Many found it ironic that three white men were tasked with improving board diversity. Helen Toner from the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology and technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley were removed when Altman returned to OpenAI shortly after being fired. Toner announced her resignation on social media, noting that a thorough review would determine the next steps for the board.

Sasha Luccioni, an AI researcher, commented on LinkedIn about the lack of women on the board, questioning the decision. Tech journalist Kara Swisher also urged the inclusion of women in the board.

OpenAI’s board announcement came amidst ongoing concerns about the gender imbalance following the removal of Toner and McCauley. A Wired report highlighted the precarious position of women in the AI industry.

Elissa Fink, former CMO of Tableau and current board member for several data platforms, expressed her surprise at the new board composition. She emphasized the importance of a diverse board for shaping unbiased and inclusive AI outcomes, hoping OpenAI would soon address this with new appointments.

Audrey MacLean, acting chair of the board for Aible, highlighted the necessity of diverse perspectives in AI governance for effective checks and balances. She noted that Aible’s board, which is majority female, includes perspectives from three continents.

Kay Firth-Butterfield, CEO of Good Tech Advisory and former head of AI at the World Economic Forum, stressed that AI companies must have boards that represent societal diversity to ensure technology benefits everyone. She pointed out that since OpenAI’s models are trained on data primarily created by white men, inclusive oversight is crucial. Firth-Butterfield also recommended transparency in selecting new board members, emphasizing the need for diligent talent searches that prioritize diversity.

The discussion about OpenAI’s board composition gained significant attention after Altman’s firing. Media coverage focused on the non-employee board members, particularly their connections to the Effective Altruism movement. Despite this focus, only Toner and McCauley were removed, while D’Angelo remained on the board. Toner clarified on social media that their decision was based on the board’s supervisory effectiveness, not a desire to hinder OpenAI’s progress.