OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued a blog post on Friday evening, addressing both an apparent attack on his residence and an extensive New Yorker profile that raised questions regarding his trustworthiness.
Early Friday morning, an individual allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home. No injuries were reported from the incident. Subsequently, a suspect was apprehended at OpenAI headquarters, where they were reportedly threatening to ignite the building, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
While the police have not publicly identified the suspect, Altman noted that the incident occurred just days after "an incendiary article" about him was published. He recalled someone suggesting that the article’s release "at a time of great anxiety about AI" could make his situation "more dangerous."
"I brushed it aside," Altman admitted. He continued, "Now I am awake in the middle of the night and pissed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives."
The article in question was a lengthy investigative piece co-authored by Ronan Farrow, a Pulitzer Prize winner for his reporting on sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and Andrew Marantz, known for his extensive writings on technology and politics.
Farrow and Marantz reported that, through interviews with over 100 individuals familiar with Altman’s business conduct, most described him as someone possessing "a relentless will to power that, even among industrialists who put their names on spaceships, sets him apart."
Echoing sentiments from other journalists who have profiled Altman, Farrow and Marantz indicated that many sources raised concerns about his trustworthiness. One anonymous board member was quoted as saying Altman combines "a strong desire to please people, to be liked in any given interaction" with "a sociopathic lack of concern for the consequences that may come from deceiving someone."
In his response, Altman reflected on his past, stating he can identify "a lot of things I’m proud of and a bunch of mistakes."
Among these mistakes, he highlighted a tendency towards "being conflict-averse," which he acknowledged has "caused great pain for me and OpenAI."
"I am not proud of handling myself badly in a conflict with our previous board that led to a huge mess for the company," Altman confessed, presumably referring to his removal and swift reinstatement as OpenAI CEO in 2023. He added, "I have made many other mistakes throughout the insane trajectory of OpenAI; I am a flawed person in the center of an exceptionally complex situation, trying to get a little better each year, always working for the mission."
He concluded this point by stating, "I am sorry to people I’ve hurt and wish I had learned more faster."
Altman also acknowledged the prevalence of "so much Shakespearean drama between the companies in our field," attributing this phenomenon to a "'ring of power' dynamic" that he believes "makes people do crazy things."
He clarified that while the correct approach to the "ring of power" is to destroy it, he doesn't mean artificial general intelligence (AGI) itself is the ring. Instead, he identifies the "totalizing philosophy of ‘being the one to control AGI’" as the true problem. His proposed solution is "to orient towards sharing the technology with people broadly, and for no one to have the ring."
Altman concluded his post by welcoming "good-faith criticism and debate" and reiterating his belief that "technological progress can make the future unbelievably good, for your family and mine."
"While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally," he urged.
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