Last month, OpenAI came out against a yet-to-be enacted Californian law that aims to set basic safety standards for developers of large artificial intelligence (AI) models. This was a change of posture for the company, whose chief executive Sam Altman has previously spoken in support of AI regulation. The former nonprofit organisation, which shot to prominence in 2022 with the release of ChatGPT, is now valued at up to US$150 billion. It remains at the forefront of AI development, with the release last week of a new “reasoning” model designed to tackle more complex tasks. The company has made several moves in recent months suggesting a growing appetite for data acquisition. This isn’t just the text or images used for training current generative AI tools, but may also include intimate data related to online behaviour, personal interactions and health.
**OpenAI’s Data Dilemma: Individual Streams vs.
This statement highlights a potential conflict between OpenAI’s current approach and the future potential of its technology. OpenAI’s current focus on individual data streams, while effective in its current applications, might be insufficient for achieving its long-term goals. The potential benefits of integrating diverse data streams are substantial.
OpenAI, a leading AI research and deployment company, has been developing and deploying powerful AI models like ChatGPT and DALL-E. These models have revolutionized various industries, from healthcare to education. However, OpenAI’s access to user data raises ethical concerns.
The company has not released any specific details about its data collection practices, and its privacy policy is vague and lacks transparency. This lack of clarity raises concerns about the use of personal data, particularly in the areas of health and wellness. Thrive AI Health’s approach to data security is also questionable.
The company, known for its facial recognition technology, has been facing scrutiny and controversy due to its data collection practices. The company has been accused of collecting and storing vast amounts of biometric data, including facial scans, without explicit consent from individuals. This has raised concerns about privacy violations and potential misuse of the technology.
This ambition was reflected in the company’s investment in large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, which are trained on massive datasets of text and code. The company’s commitment to AI development is evident in its significant investments in research and development (R&D). For example, in 2022, the company invested $10 billion in R&D, a substantial portion of its overall revenue.
The potential for large-scale data consolidation also raises concerns about profiling and surveillance. Again, there is no evidence that OpenAI currently plans to engage in such practices. However, OpenAI’s privacy policies have been less than perfect in the past. Tech companies more broadly also have a long history of questionable data practices. It is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which centralised control over many kinds of data would let OpenAI exert significant influence over people, in both personal and public domains. Will safety take a back seat? OpenAI’s recent history does little to assuage safety and privacy concerns. In November 2023, Altman was temporarily ousted as chief executive, reportedly due to internal conflicts over the company’s strategic direction.
This has led to concerns about the potential risks associated with the development and deployment of AI technologies. Altman’s approach has been criticized by some experts who argue that it prioritizes short-term gains over long-term sustainability. They believe that focusing solely on market penetration can lead to neglecting crucial safety and ethical considerations. This approach, they argue, could result in the development of AI systems that are biased, unfair, or even dangerous.
