William Saunders

Former OpenAI engineer William Saunders sheds light on the prioritization of profit over safety in tech companies. He discusses the 'right to warn' for employees raising AI risk concerns, emphasizing transparency and the need for regulatory protection. The episode explores the challenges of AI safety, confidential whistleblowing, and the impact of independent evaluation on tech product safety.

William Saunders, a former member of OpenAI's Superalignment team, expresses concerns about the company's rapid development overshadowing safety. Joining him is Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law professor advocating for whistleblower protections in AI. They discuss the troubling culture within OpenAI and the 'Right to Warn' policy, which allows insiders to report safety issues without fear. The conversation touches on historical analogies for modern tech dilemmas and emphasizes the urgent need for transparency and proactive measures to prevent potential disasters in AI development.