BREAKING: Sam Altman STUNNED As Top Employees LEAVE OpenAI

Summary

A key OpenAI employee, Mira Madi, has announced her departure after playing a significant role in the company's recent upheaval. She thanks Sam Altman and Greg for their trust and support. The script discusses the potential impact of her leaving, speculates on her future, and touches on other AI-related developments, including Sam Altman's ambitious chip fabrication plans and the shifting dynamics within the AI industry.

Takeaways

• 😢 A key OpenAI employee, Mira Madi, has announced her departure from the company.
• 👋 Mira Madi took over as CEO after Sam Altman was let go and played a significant role in managing the company's operations.
• 📄 Mira shared a note with the OpenAI team and posted it publicly, expressing gratitude and reflecting on her decision to leave.
• 🔍 Mira's departure is seen as part of a trend where several OpenAI employees have left to start their own AI-focused startups.
• 🤔 Mira's reason for leaving is to create time and space for her own exploration, indicating a desire for personal growth and new challenges.
• 🔄 The departure raises questions about the stability and future direction of OpenAI, especially after the recent release of significant AI products.
• 👥 The script mentions other notable departures from OpenAI, including Ilia Sutskever, and speculates on where Mira might end up next.
• 📉 Daniel Kokoto, a former OpenAI insider, criticized the company's direction and highlighted concerns about the AI race for dominance.
• 🔮 Predictions from a LessWrong.com user about OpenAI's future were largely accurate, including the departure of key figures and changes in the board.
• 💼 The script discusses the involvement of the US government in scrutinizing foreign investments in AI, particularly those from the Middle East.
• 🏛️ The script also touches on the historical parallels drawn between the development of AI and the Manhattan Project, suggesting a race for technological advantage.

Q & A

Who is leaving OpenAI according to the transcript?

Mir Mora is leaving OpenAI, as she announced her departure in a note shared with the team and posted publicly.

What was Mir Mora's role at OpenAI?

Mir Mora played a significant role at OpenAI, including taking over as CEO temporarily after Sam Altman was let go and leading the technical organization.

Why is Mir Mora leaving OpenAI?

Mir Mora has made the decision to leave OpenAI after much reflection. She wants to create time and space for her own exploration and will ensure a smooth transition.

What are some of the notable achievements mentioned during Mir Mora's tenure at OpenAI?

The release of the speech-to-speech and the OpenAI1 are mentioned as the beginning of a new era in interaction and intelligence.

What was the original attention paper, and what happened to its authors?

The original attention paper had nine authors, eight of whom left to start their own startups in the AI space.

What did Ilia Sutskever do after leaving OpenAI?

Ilia Sutskever left OpenAI and got funded to pursue his quest towards developing safe super intelligence.

What did Daniel Kokoto do after leaving OpenAI?

Daniel Kokoto left OpenAI and spoke out against the company, warning of a reckless race for dominance and losing confidence in its responsible behavior around AGI.

What was the prediction made by GW from lesswrong.com regarding OpenAI?

GW predicted with a high probability that Mir Mora would leave OpenAI, which turned out to be true.

What was the situation with Sam Altman's investment in chip fabrication?

Sam Altman was pursuing investments for chip fabrication, including working with the UAE, but faced challenges as the US government scrutinized and canceled some deals due to ties to China and other Middle Eastern players.

What was the prediction about Microsoft's role in OpenAI?

The prediction was that Microsoft's observer seat on the OpenAI board would be upgraded to a voting seat, but it was noted that the opposite might have happened, with Microsoft leaving the board.

What is the game 'Satisfactory' mentioned in the transcript?

Satisfactory is a game similar to Factorio but in 3D, where players automate factories and build technology on an alien planet, accompanied by a snarky AI assistant.

What is the general sentiment towards Sam Altman among the audience mentioned in the transcript?

The sentiment towards Sam Altman is mixed, with 41% distrusting him, 33% somewhat trusting him, and only 12% expressing full trust.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Departure of a Key OpenAI Executive

A significant member of the OpenAI team, who played a pivotal role during the Sam Altman controversy and subsequent leadership changes, has decided to leave the company. She has expressed gratitude to Sam and Greg for their trust and support over the years. The departure comes after the release of major AI advancements like speech-to-speech and OpenAI 1, which she views as the dawn of a new era in AI interaction and intelligence. Her decision to step away is driven by a desire for personal exploration and she is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. The script also speculates on her future, noting a pattern of OpenAI talent moving on to start their own ventures in the AI space. Additionally, the script discusses reactions to her departure and touches upon the broader implications of such a shift in the AI industry.

05:01

🌐 AI Development and its Sociopolitical Ramifications

The script discusses predictions about the future of AI and its potential geopolitical impacts. It references a prediction that Microsoft's observer seat on the OpenAI board would become a voting seat, although the narrator notes that this has not come to pass. The discussion then shifts to Daniel Kokoto, a former OpenAI insider, who has voiced concerns about the company's direction and the broader race for AI dominance. Kokoto highlights a tweet from Ivanka Trump discussing Leopold Ashen Brenner's views on AI risk, which align with Kokoto's own cautionary stance. Brenner's perspective is that nations will compete for AI superiority much like they did with the development of nuclear weapons, and this competition will not be without interference. The script concludes with a brief mention of a game called 'satisfactory' and a poll about trust in Sam Altman, ending with a call for viewer engagement in the comments.

Keywords

💡OpenAI

OpenAI is a leading artificial intelligence research organization that develops advanced AI technologies, including language models like ChatGPT. In the script, OpenAI is the focal point of the discussion, with various key personnel changes and internal conflicts being highlighted, including leadership changes involving figures like Sam Altman and Mira Murati.

💡Mira Murati

Mira Murati is a former key player at OpenAI who briefly took over as CEO during a period of internal turmoil when Sam Altman was temporarily ousted. Her departure from OpenAI is significant as it marks a shift in the company's leadership landscape, and her role in managing the transition during the crisis is acknowledged in the script.

💡Sam Altman

Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and a central figure in the organization's recent internal drama. He was temporarily removed from his position before being reinstated. The script discusses his ongoing influence, his personal investments, and his controversial role within OpenAI, including accusations of conflicts of interest and pursuit of chip fabrication projects.

💡AI Risk

AI risk refers to the potential dangers and ethical concerns associated with the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies, especially those that could lead to unintended consequences. The script touches on AI risk through references to community discussions, like those on LessWrong.com, and the concerns raised by former employees about OpenAI's pursuit of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).

💡AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)

AGI refers to an AI system with the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a level comparable to a human being. The script highlights concerns about the race to develop AGI, the potential risks involved, and the internal debates at OpenAI regarding the responsible management of this powerful technology.

💡Board Dynamics

Board dynamics at OpenAI refer to the interactions and power struggles among the company's board members, which played a crucial role in Sam Altman's temporary ouster and subsequent return. The script describes how internal feedback loops and board decisions have affected the company's direction and leadership stability.

💡Chip Fabrication

Chip fabrication in the context of the script refers to Sam Altman's efforts to secure funding for creating proprietary AI hardware, specifically GPUs, to reduce reliance on external suppliers like NVIDIA. The script mentions this as a controversial project, with international implications and scrutiny from the U.S. government.

💡LessWrong.com

LessWrong.com is an online forum known for discussions about rationality, AI risk, and long-term strategic thinking. The script references a prediction made on LessWrong.com about the internal dynamics at OpenAI, illustrating how the community actively engages in speculation and analysis of major AI developments.

💡Ilia Sutskever

Ilia Sutskever is a co-founder of OpenAI and a prominent AI researcher who recently left the organization. The script discusses his departure as part of a broader trend of high-profile exits from OpenAI, reflecting possible discontent with the company's direction and internal politics.

💡Venture Capital

Venture capital is a form of private equity financing that OpenAI has relied on for funding its projects and growth. The script mentions that some controversies have arisen regarding the ownership and management of OpenAI's venture funds, specifically highlighting Sam Altman's involvement and potential conflicts of interest.

Highlights

A key player at OpenAI is leaving the team after playing a significant role in the company's recent drama.

Mir Mora took over as CEO after Sam Altman was let go and worked to keep the organization together.

Mir Mora announced her departure after much reflection, expressing gratitude to Sam and Greg for their trust and support.

Mir Mora highlighted the release of speech-to-speech and OpenAI1 as the beginning of a new era in interaction and intelligence.

Mir Mora is stepping away to create time and space for her own exploration and will ensure a smooth transition.

The transcript discusses the possibility of Mir Mora joining another AI startup or pursuing her own ventures.

The original authors of the attention-only Uni paper have mostly left to start their own AI-focused startups.

Ilia Sutskever, who recently left OpenAI, is pursuing the development of safe super intelligence with funding.

Daniel Kokoto, a former OpenAI insider, warned of a reckless race for dominance in AI.

GW from lesswrong.com predicted Mir Mora's departure with high probability, citing internal conflicts and Sam Altman's influence.

The New York Times reported on embarrassing details about Sam Altman, including his ambitious chip fab plans.

Mir Mora clarified her role in Sam Altman's ouster, stating she did not support the board's actions.

Despite predictions, Sam Altman remains CEO of OpenAI with a new board that includes high-caliber members with government ties.

Microsoft's observer seat at the OpenAI board was expected to be upgraded, but it seems the opposite has occurred.

Daniel Kokoto pointed out that Ivanka Trump is discussing AI and AI risk, referencing Leopold Ashen Brenner's situational awareness.

Leopold Ashen Brenner's paper suggests that the development of super intelligence will not occur without government interference.

A poll was conducted to gauge public trust in Sam Altman, with a significant portion expressing distrust.

The host of the transcript, Wes Bth, discusses the mass exodus of top talent from OpenAI and its potential implications.

Wes Bth shares his experience playing 'Satisfactory,' a game that involves automation and AI, drawing parallels to the AI industry.

Transcripts

so sadly yet another openai employee is

leaving the team a key player at open a

she played a big role in that whole open

a drama where Sam mman was let go for 3

Days Mir Mora actually took over as CEO

and seemingly did a lot of the work to

keep everything going to keep everything

together today she just announced that

she's leaving she shared this note with

the open AI team today and posted it for

us to see it as well she's saying that

after much reflection she has made the

difficult decision to leave open AI

she's thanking Sam and Greg for their

trust in her to lead the technical

organization and for their support

throughout the years she talks about the

release of the speech to speech and the

open ai1 as the beginning of a new era

with interaction and intelligence I'll

post this so you can read it for

yourself the things that jumped out at

me is here a little bit towards the

bottom she's saying she's stepping away

because she wants to create the time and

space to do my own exploration and she

will be doing everything in her power to

ensure a smooth transition it will be

interesting to know where she ends up I

believe the original attention only uni

paper believe it had nine authors on it

eight of whom left to start their own

startups in the AI space Ilia Suk who

left recently got funded to pursue his

quest towards developing safe super

intelligence some of the people went on

to work with anthropic or other startups

so it will be interesting to see where

Meera ends up I'm sure this isn't the

last we've heard of her but some all

replies thanking her for all the hard

work and support report during the hard

times and that there's going to be some

more news about the transition plan soon

this is Daniel kokoto I'm sorry if I'm

mispronouncing the last name but he was

at open ey he was one of the open ey

insiders he left and he spoke out in a

way against open ey warning of a

reckless race for dominance he pointed

something out in response to mir's mad's

note that seven months ago GW from less

wrong.com predicted this would happen

with a very high probability G is a bit

of a presence on less wrong.com a place

where a lot of different things get

discussed but one of them is AI risk so

here's that post gor is saying that

there's been an open a update the

investigation is over likely referring

to when open AI brought in the

high-powered lawyers to kind of do a

full investigation over what happened

the Wilmer hail Law Firm he mentioned

here that a number of embarrassing

details about Sam Alman have surfaced in

particular his enormous chip fat plan

with substantial interest from investors

and how the open ey Venture Capital fund

turns out to be owned by Sam Alman

himself he continues noting the New York

Times leaked information saying that key

opening executive Mira Madi played a

pivotal role in Sam alman's ouer it

seems like it was confirmed by Mira in

an internal note this is uh supposed to

be that internal document that she wrote

saying that when individual board

members reached out to her directly for

feedback about Sam She provided all the

feedback Sam already knew but that does

not in any way mean that I'm responsible

for or supported the old board's actions

which I still find perplexing she fought

them aggressively and they all worked

together to bring Sam back it continues

at length kind of like going over some

of the events that happen certainly some

of this paints Sam Alman and his support

is in a somewhat negative light but his

predictions were that Alman will still

be the CEO of open AI which is true the

new opening ey board will include Sam

Alman which is still the case I believe

Sam Alman Adam D'Angelo are still on the

board with the addition of a number of

new board members some of whom who have

deep ties to the US government but I

think it's fair to say definitely much

more sort of High Caliber people people

with I would say more experience dealing

with corporate matters and handling

situations like that and he's saying

that Ilia Suk and Mir Madi will leave

open AI or otherwise take some sort of a

clearly diminished role by year and he's

saying he's he's got a 75% chance of Mir

Madi leaving in part due to her

desperate sound internal note the report

was released but as a lot of people

criticized it it didn't say too much

Sirius chip Fab Tigress efforts will

continue so that's Sam alman's quest to

get investment to start building his own

gpus he's been going after it for a

while including working with the UAE to

try to get some of those money the US

government stepped in actually I believe

had to cancel one of the deals and and

the money had to be withdrawn they had

to sort of retroactively cancel that

agreement this was posted by the

information a few weeks ago on September

12th opening ey talks with the UAE

investment fund for 7 billion

fundraising and as they put it here the

committee on foreign investment the

United States has become more active and

aggressive scrutinizing Middle Eastern

investments in US biotechnology and

artificial intelligence companies it has

been reported that they've actually

cancelled one of the previous deals

because of close ties to China and some

other players in the Middle East but his

prediction that serious chip Fab chip

fabrication and or Tigress efforts that

was the code name for that project that

these efforts will continue I I I I feel

like he nailed it I certainly would say

that he was correct and that Microsoft

Observer seat will be upgraded to a

voting seat with a 25% confidence I

haven't heard anything about that

actually if I understand correctly the

opposite has happened Microsoft ditches

open AI board Observer seat I do vaguely

recall seeing that at the time but I do

bring that up because Daniel kokoto he

was the one that brought it to my

attention he worked for impacts Center

on long-term risk then open a eye and

then he quit open eye due to losing

confidence that would be beh responsibly

around the time of AGI interestingly

enough Daniel also right around the time

that Mira Madi posted her internal

message this today announcing her

resignation Daniel also pointed out

another name that was talking about Ai

and AI risk name that I didn't quite

expect to hear but he here retweets

Ivanka Trump who in turn is talking

about Leopold Ashen Brenner's

situational awareness we've covered it

uh in quite some depth on this channel I

feel like so if you wanted to do a deep

dive into it we've certainly talked

about enough you know here Daniel saying

that while he basically agrees with the

prediction that it makes with Leopold's

predictions he might disagree with some

of the policy priorities when I first

read Leopold Ashen br's paper to me he

was saying a lot of the same things that

I was thinking in a world where a lot of

people were talking about how AGI would

bring about Utopia while some believed

that it would completely end the entire

human race Leopold's uh view was a

little bit more like look at a history

book we know how Nations behave elves to

acquire power to not be left behind to

maintain their economic or technological

advantage if some Bay Area startup

starts developing something even closely

resembling super intelligence or AGI the

US government is not going to sleep

through that all the other governments

will be paying attention it's not going

to happen with without any interference

and he drew kind of parallels between

the development of super intelligence to

the Manhattan Project to the development

of the nuclear bomb I did a quick poll

asking all of you what you thought of

Sam Alman specifically do you trust him

I'll leave a link down below it's still

very knew only 365 votes but the audio

got clipped he said 41% fundamentally

distrust Sam Alman 33% are saying they

somewhat trust him he's not a saint but

he can be reasonably be trusted and only

12% are saying that they do trust them

or at least they trust them more than

maybe some of the other CEOs some of the

other Business Leaders Etc but let me

know what you think in the comments and

answer that poll if you can how do you

feel about this whole situation is this

Mass Exodus of top talent from opening

eyes it's a big red flag do you think

it's normal it just normal part of the

Bay Area Talent seeking better Ventures

better opportunities if people are

leaving just to leave open AI is Sam

Alman at fault do you think that he's

creating some environment some race for

egi that that's making people

uncomfortable I took the day today to

play a game that just got released least

after being in sort of open beta for a

while called satisfactory if you've ever

played factorio it's basically factorio

in 3D I'm happy to say that I've

automated my co production and I'm now

building the incredible impressive space

elevator the plot of the game as far as

I can tell is that you crash land on a

alien planet and it just you any number

of automated factories as well as a

snarky AI assistant that alternates

between strange PLO to motivate you or

basically threatening you if you don't

perform to her satisfaction but it's

basically just you alongside with ever

growing ever improving automation

technology versus an entire planet I

don't know somehow that seemed related

anyways my name is Wes rth I got to get

back to building but if you made it this

far thank you for watching and I'll see

you next time