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I quit OpenAI because its culture is broken

476 points · 794 comments · Brajeshwar

  1. binlog · · focus · HN ↗
    We need a new rule that mandates every such "I am leaving <AI company> because of <concern>" post to disclose how much equity they have in the company and how much they have already cashed out. Easy to suddenly find a moral compass when you, your kids and their kids never have to worry about working for money again.

    Mr Robinson if you are reading this – if you are truly concerned about AI safety share proof of donation of 100% of your OpenAI earnings and equity towards undoing the damage you have done to society during your time there.

    In the absence of that this is simply a career pivot into being an AI "influencer" and/or raising money for a new scam.

    1. jameshart · · focus · HN ↗
      What an absolutely ridiculous standard to try to hold someone to. Taking a vow of poverty is not a prerequisite to being permitted to express a moral position.
      1. binlog · · focus · HN ↗
        So all of us who haven't made tens of millions from OpenAI stock are living in poverty?
        1. bichiliad · · focus · HN ↗
          I don’t think that’s the point they’re trying to make at all.
          1. binlog · · focus · HN ↗
            So what's the point? It should be a given that loudly proclaiming "X is harmful to society" while continuing to enjoy the money you have gained from selling X is hypocritical. Put it towards undoing the harm you have done, otherwise your words mean nothing.
            1. jameshart · · focus · HN ↗
              The words clearly don't mean nothing. They would mean nothing coming from someone who was not in a position to learn what someone who had worked in the industry has learned. They would mean nothing coming from someone who was being paid by someone who stands to gain from them. The fact that they come from someone who was paid to work in the field does the opposite of make them 'mean nothing'.
            2. bichiliad · · focus · HN ↗
              I agree with this take generally, but I also think it’s a gradient, not a spectrum. I think they claim that OpenAI is not considering safety and has become bad, not that AI is bad. Seen from a different lens, the author no longer stands to profit from OpenAI, so they’re empowered to speak openly. Plus, if I was going to say bad things about a former employer as powerful as OpenAI, I would want to have lawyer money handy.
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