Hidden Forces Empire of AI: Inside OpenAI’s Race to Conquer the Future | Karen Hao
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May 19, 2025 
Karen Hao, an award-winning journalist and author of 'Empire of AI,' shares her insight into OpenAI's evolution from an idealistic nonprofit to a major player in AI technology. She discusses the ethical implications of AI commercialization and the power struggles within the organization, especially after its partnership with Microsoft. Hao emphasizes the risk of a dystopian future driven by profit, urging society to scrutinize the power dynamics at play in Silicon Valley and engage in meaningful conversations around the responsibilities of AI development.
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Early OpenAI Disillusionment
- Karen Hao embedded at OpenAI in 2019 to understand its nonprofit claims.
- She found OpenAI was secretive, competitive, and already pivoting to for-profit motives.
OpenAI Mirrors Sam Altman
- OpenAI largely reflects Sam Altman's personality and storytelling prowess.
- He's also a product of Silicon Valley's obsession with narrative as power and wealth.
Founding OpenAI With Musk's Brand
- OpenAI's founding hinged on appealing to Elon Musk's fear of AI monopolies under Google.
- Musk's brand helped attract top talent and investors to the nonprofit vision.
