Open AI's Shift from Non-Profit to Big Tech (and why it matters), w/ Parmy Olson

AI-Curious with Jeff Wilser

In this episode of AI-Curious, host Jeff Wilser dives deep into the shifting dynamics of AI with Parmy Olson, Bloomberg technology columnist and author of the book Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World.

We explore her fascinating character study of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind. Both men began with the ambitious vision of creating AI for the benefit of humanity, but as their projects evolved, so did their goals. From non-profit beginnings to corporate pivots, they now find themselves at the center of a high-stakes race between major tech giants, including Google and Microsoft.

Key themes discussed in the episode:

•The rise and rivalry between OpenAI and DeepMind

•How “mission drift” turned altruistic AI projects into profit-seeking ventures

•The challenges of governance, control, and transparency in AI development

•The broader implications of AI’s shift toward corporate dominance and its potential societal harms

•Insights into AI regulation, including the European Union’s AI Act and the difficulties of regulating major tech companies

Timestamps:

•[0:25] Introduction to the episode and guest, Parmy Olson

•[6:48] The origin stories of Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis

•[17:41] Elon Musk’s involvement in OpenAI and early ideals

•[22:14] The pivotal shift from non-profit to for-profit in AI development

•[35:26] The consequences of AI’s secrecy and the risks of developing in a “black box”

•[40:02] The European Union’s AI Act and potential future regulations

This episode uncovers the deep complexities of AI’s evolution and its consequences for the future of innovation, governance, and society.
Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World
https://www.amazon.com/Supremacy-ChatGPT-Race-Change-World-ebook/dp/B0CLJTMF84/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kbMUMf_48bq2qFLdMBLWU3Rrl-m-H-pHU3V-xxS6dp8.QPkxtzUrG6GBRfyL6ksoHfc5rGxYjxYqcobNLi-5fAA&dib_tag=se&hvadid=709963915673&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9028770&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12472730836779239893--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12472730836779239893&hvtargid=kwd-2338411313895&hydadcr=22561_13493272&keywords=supremacy+parmy+olson&qid=1728510497&sr=8-1
Jeff Wilser on Twitter/X:
https://x.com/jeffwilser
Parmy Olson on Twitter/X:
https://x.com/parmy
AI-Curious on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jeffwilser