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I quit OpenAI because its culture is broken

473 points · 790 comments · Brajeshwar

  1. pcthrowaway · · focus · HN ↗
    Trolley problem:

    - If you allow to trolley to proceed, there's a 50% chance it will run over every human on the planet

    - But if you flip the switch, it takes the long way around, possibly bankrupting the trolley company. And you have a legal obligation to the shareholders to prevent that from happening at all costs.

    1. parineum · · focus · HN ↗
      > And you have a legal obligation to the shareholders to prevent that from happening at all costs.

      I can't wait until this meme dies.

    2. MaxfordAndSons · · focus · HN ↗
      There is no such legal obligation. That's a myth the oligarchs have spread to preclude people from even imagining socially responsible corporations.

      Sure, you might get fired if you try to put social responsibility or even just long term sustainability of the company above quarterly earnings/growth if your board isn't on board with it. But you won't go to jail.

    3. bpodgursky · · focus · HN ↗
      I honestly would love to understand — is this your mental model of what motivates the labs to move forward?
    4. MichaelDickens · · focus · HN ↗
      That's why it's important that the trolley company was established as a non-profit. And if it does take funding, investors' returns will be capped at 100x.

      (...wait)

      1. simoncion · · focus · HN ↗
        It's also why even the trolley company's CEO agrees that it's important that -should the board determine that the CEO is fantastically untrustworthy and unethical- the board is able to fire said CEO and replace him with someone that's trustworthy and ethical.

        (...wait.)

        1. NexRebular · · focus · HN ↗
          > ...someone that's trustworthy and ethical.

          So... a language model?

    5. deaux · · focus · HN ↗
      > And you have a legal obligation to the shareholders to prevent that from happening at all costs.

      No you don't. [0] It's very suspicious that this planted myth always pops up here and manages to become the top comment.

      There is no trolley problem.

      [0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=48975048">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=48975048

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