OpenAI has announced the formation of a Safety and Security Committee as it begins training its next artificial intelligence model. This new committee will be led by board members, including CEO Sam Altman, and will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of OpenAI’s projects and operations.
The committee includes notable directors such as Bret Taylor, Adam D’Angelo, and Nicole Seligman. The establishment of this committee marks a significant step for OpenAI as it transitions from a non-profit-like entity to a more defined commercial organization. D.A. Davidson managing director Gil Luria expects this move to streamline product development while maintaining accountability.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been at the forefront of developing chatbots with generative AI capabilities, capable of engaging in human-like conversations and creating images from text prompts. However, these advancements have raised safety concerns as AI models continue to grow more powerful.
OpenAI Safety and Security Committee
The Safety and Security Committee will be responsible for making recommendations to the board on safety and security decisions. Its first task will be to evaluate and further develop OpenAI’s existing safety practices over the next 90 days, after which it will share recommendations with the board. Following the board’s review, OpenAI plans to share an update on the adopted recommendations publicly.
The committee is also composed of newly appointed Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki and Matt Knight, head of security. Additionally, OpenAI will consult with external experts, including Rob Joyce, a former U.S. National Security Agency cybersecurity director, and John Carlin, a former Department of Justice official.
The formation of this committee comes after the departure of former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, leaders of OpenAI’s Superalignment team. The Superalignment team, which ensured AI models remained aligned with intended objectives, was disbanded earlier this year, with some members reassigned to other groups.
OpenAI has not disclosed specific details about the new “frontier” model it is currently training. However, the company has indicated that this model will bring its systems to the next level of capabilities on the path to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In May, OpenAI announced a new AI model capable of realistic voice conversation and interaction across text and image, showcasing the company’s ongoing advancements in the field of AI.
This initiative highlights OpenAI’s commitment to addressing safety concerns and ensuring that its AI developments are both innovative and secure.
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