A growing chorus of influential figures in the tech industry has called for OpenAI to temporarily halt the training of its cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tool, ChatGPT. The open letter, which has garnered over 1,100 signatures to date, urges a six-month pause on developing AI systems more advanced than GPT-4, the latest iteration of the tool. The letter was signed by high-profile names such as Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and Andrew Yang.
The authors of the letter claim that if OpenAI does not comply with their request, governments should step in and impose a moratorium. They insist that the pause must be transparent and inclusive of all key actors, with its progress publicly verifiable. Some critics have questioned the authenticity of all the signatories, but Future of Life Institute Vice President Anthony Aguirre confirmed that the top signatories have been independently verified.
OpenAI’s spokesman noted that the earliest signatures had been double-checked, but due to high demand, the display of names had been paused to allow the vetting processes to catch up. It is still unclear whether the research lab will comply with the request or face government intervention. Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but resigned from the board in 2018, reportedly invested $100 million in the project.
GPT-4 has created a buzz since its launch two weeks ago, with some people heralding it as a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize the world. However, others fear that the unchecked advancement of AI could lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity. The authors of the open letter urge caution and responsibility in the development of AI technology.
As the debate over the future of AI rages on, it remains to be seen how OpenAI and other tech companies will respond to calls for greater regulation and oversight. The stakes are high, and the decisions made today could have far-reaching implications for generations to come.
