Lawrence Summers, a new board member at artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, recently highlighted the company’s crucial work and emphasized the need for it to operate ethically. Summers, a former US treasury secretary, appeared on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week with David Westin, stating that OpenAI must be willing to collaborate with government officials on regulatory, national security, and technology development matters. His remarks shed light on the focus of his upcoming role at the Silicon Valley startup.
Summers officially joined OpenAI’s board following a tumultuous leadership battle within the company. After firing CEO Sam Altman, the board later agreed to reinstate him. The majority of the board members who terminated Altman have since stepped down, making way for a new group of directors, including Summers and former Salesforce Inc. co-CEO Bret Taylor.
When asked about his plan to ensure safe governance of the company, Summers commented, I’ve been on the job two days, underlining his early stage in the new position. He mentioned that his on-boarding packet would be arriving over the weekend.
Summers, a Harvard University professor and paid contributor to Bloomberg TV, reiterated his earlier statement that AI is coming for the cognitive class and could potentially replace certain white-collar jobs.
This development at OpenAI aligns with the company’s mission to ensure the responsible and beneficial deployment of artificial intelligence. By bringing aboard someone with Summers’ expertise and influential background, the company is striving to maintain high ethical standards while advancing groundbreaking AI technology.
As OpenAI continues to navigate its path in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, Summers’ insights and guidance, combined with the new board of directors, are poised to shape the startup’s future direction. With a focus on cooperation, regulation, and ethical practices, OpenAI aims to be at the forefront of innovation in the AI industry, addressing the concerns surrounding the impact of AI on society and the global workforce.
