OpenAI's Advisory Board Pushes for Stronger Public Involvement in AI Development

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is facing some big questions about its future. A group of advisors recently said that OpenAI should stay under nonprofit control. They believe AI is too important to be left to just corporations or governments. The advisors think a nonprofit structure allows for more public involvement in AI development. The advisors, including labor leader Dolores Huerta, visited communities in California. They found that many people are excited about AI but feel left out of the process. People want to know more about how AI is developed and who makes the big decisions. OpenAI started as a nonprofit in 2015 but has since added a for-profit side. This change has caused some problems, including legal scrutiny and a lawsuit from Elon Musk. The company plans to turn its for-profit side into a public benefit corporation, but details are still unclear. The advisors recommend that OpenAI give more resources to its nonprofit side. They suggest focusing on economic opportunities, AI education, and making the organization more accessible to everyday people. The advisors also want a human to lead the nonprofit, showing how important this role is. The advisors did not work closely with OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, to keep their recommendations independent. However, they did talk to senior engineers who seemed open to making AI development more democratic. The advisors' report is not binding, but it provides a framework for judging OpenAI's future actions. They hope OpenAI will use these recommendations to make AI development more inclusive and transparent.