Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has no immediate plans to take the company public, citing concerns over limited decision-making freedom. Altman expressed his desire to maintain full control over OpenAI’s AI chatbot-based technology as it becomes more powerful.
He believes that when superintelligence is developed, there will be decisions that public market investors would find unconventional, and he prefers to remain non-conflicted.
During his world tour across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Altman is actively discussing ways to mitigate potential harm caused by AI and promote effective regulation. Various countries and organizations are already in the process of creating rules to govern AI technologies.
The European Parliament, for example, is drafting its first set of regulations in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to manage the rapid growth of AI.
Altman has expressed concerns that upcoming AI regulations in the European Union may compel OpenAI to leave the region. However, he later called for increased regulation in Washington, emphasizing his fear of significant harm caused by the technology.
OpenAI, initially established as a non-profit organization, now operates as a “capped-profit” company, raising external funds while returning excess value above the cap to the non-profit sector for the benefit of humanity.
OpenAI’s valuation stands at nearly $30 billion, and its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, has garnered 173 million users as of April. The company’s website has experienced a surge in traffic, nearing the billion mark for unique monthly visitors.
Altman’s stance reflects the ongoing debate surrounding AI’s ethical implications and the importance of ensuring responsible development and regulation.
