OpenAI
Creating AGI that benefits all of humanity
In late 2022 OpenAI launched ChatGPT. It transformed the world's interest and progress in generative AI. OpenAI is a research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. "To achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. We believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared."
OpenAI was founded in December 2015 with the goal of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that benefits all of humanity. The organization was established as a non-profit with the mission of conducting research in the field of AI and promoting the development of safe and beneficial AI technologies.
OpenAI’s initial team included notable figures in the tech and AI community, such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and others. The organization’s focus was on addressing the potential risks associated with powerful AI systems and ensuring that the benefits of AI were distributed broadly.
In 2019, OpenAI transitioned to a for-profit model with the creation of a new entity called OpenAI LP. The shift in structure allowed OpenAI to secure additional funding and partnerships to accelerate its research and development efforts. However, the commitment to long-term safety and broad benefits for humanity remained central to OpenAI’s mission.
Over the years, OpenAI has achieved significant milestones in AI research, with projects like GPT-3 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3) showcasing the capabilities of large language models. These models, including the one you’re talking to right now, have applications in natural language processing, text generation, and various other AI tasks.
OpenAI’s strategy revolves around three key principles:
- Broadly Distributed Benefits: OpenAI is committed to ensuring that the benefits of artificial general intelligence (AGI) are shared with all of humanity. The organization aims to avoid enabling uses of AI or AGI that could harm humanity or concentrate power in a way that harms the broader population.
- Long-Term Safety: OpenAI recognizes the potential risks associated with the development of powerful AI systems. The organization is dedicated to conducting research to make AGI safe and promoting the widespread adoption of safety measures across the AI community. OpenAI actively cooperates with other research and policy institutions to address global challenges related to AGI safety.
- Technical Leadership: To effectively address AGI’s impact on society, OpenAI believes in being at the cutting edge of AI capabilities. By maintaining technical leadership, OpenAI aims to be in a position to effectively address AGI’s societal impact and contribute valuable insights and guidance.
The transition from a non-profit to a for-profit model in 2019 was driven by the need for increased resources and funding to pursue these strategic goals effectively. OpenAI collaborates with other research and policy institutions, shares research findings, and engages in initiatives that align with its mission of ensuring AGI benefits all of humanity.
A year after the launch of ChatGPT, in November 2023, OpenAI imploded. The board dismissed CEO Sam Altman without explanation. The business was in free fall, and almost every employee signed a petition demanding his return. Meanwhile key investor Microsoft started exploring bring Altman and most of his team in-house. However with 4 days, the entire OpenAI board resigned, and Altman was back as CEO again.
A month later, Time magazine made him CEO of the year: