"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player Analysis OpenAI's Identity Crisis: History, Culture & Non-Profit Control with ex-employee Steven Adler
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May 8, 2025 
Steven Adler, a former research scientist at OpenAI, shares his insider insights on the company's tumultuous journey from nonprofit to for-profit. He discusses the cultural shifts and ethical dilemmas faced by AI researchers, especially during the development of GPT-3 and GPT-4. Adler also highlights the importance of transparent governance in AI, evaluates safety practices, and addresses the controversial collaboration with military entities. His reflections underline the pressing need for responsible AI development amidst competitive pressures and societal implications.
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Anthropic Split Crisis
- Steven Adler joined OpenAI in December 2020 amidst a major internal crisis as key members left to form Anthropic.
- This upheaval created uncertainty about OpenAI's future, testing the company's commitment to its nonprofit mission.
Enhance AI Product Safety
- Improve AI content safety by recalibrating content filter thresholds for better policy adherence and usability.
- Focus on deploying safety behavior within models directly instead of placing burden on developers.
Race to Top Is Risky
- Relying on a "race to the top" among AI companies for safety is flawed because desperate companies may take dangerous risks.
- Without protections, competitive pressure can lead to worsening safety standards rather than improvement.