Tech Won't Save Us We All Suffer from OpenAI’s Pursuit of Scale w/ Karen Hao
61 snips
Jun 12, 2025 
Karen Hao, an award-winning journalist and author of *Empire of AI*, discusses the troubling impact of OpenAI's relentless pursuit of scale. She highlights how this strategy has led to exploitation, worsened data privacy issues, and environmental harm. The conversation delves into the commercialization of AI and its colonial legacy, critiquing the disconnect between OpenAI's founding ideals and current practices. Hao also emphasizes the risks of overemphasizing generative AI at the expense of other essential research areas, advocating for a more ethical approach to technology development.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
OpenAI as a New Empire
- OpenAI should be understood as a new form of empire with colonial dynamics shaping its impact.
- This perspective is critical for building technology that benefits humanity more broadly.
OpenAI's Shift from Transparency
- OpenAI changed drastically after 2018-2019, shifting from openness to secrecy and for-profit motives.
- Elon Musk's departure and Microsoft's investment marked a pivot away from original nonprofit ideals.
Bottleneck-Driven Strategy
- OpenAI strategically removed bottlenecks inhibiting its growth, shifting focus from talent to capital.
- This evolving strategy explains the company's confusing and shifting operational goals over time.
