OpenAI Co-Founder Has Left to Join Anthropic
OpenAI Co-Founder Has Left to Join Anthropic
Introduction
John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI, announced his departure from the Microsoft-backed company to join Anthropic, an AI startup funded by Amazon. Schulman’s move comes as he seeks to intensify his focus on AI alignment and return to hands-on technical work.
A Pivotal Figure at OpenAI
Schulman has been a pivotal figure at OpenAI since earning his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2016. At OpenAI, he co-led the post-training team that enhanced AI models like ChatGPT and developed a programming interface for third-party developers. In June, he became head of alignment science and joined a committee to advise the board on safety and security matters.
Schulman emphasized that his departure was not due to a lack of support for AI alignment at OpenAI but rather a personal decision to deepen his technical engagement in the field.
Recent Disbandment of OpenAI's Superalignment Team
Schulman's exit follows OpenAI's recent disbandment of its superalignment team, which aimed to ensure human control over highly capable AI systems. The team leaders, Jan Leike and co-founder Ilya Sutskever, have also left OpenAI, with Leike joining Anthropic and Sutskever founding Safe Superintelligence Inc.
Significant Internal Changes at OpenAI
OpenAI has experienced significant internal changes, particularly after CEO Sam Altman was briefly ousted by the board last November. This decision led to employee protests and the resignation of several board members, including Sutskever. Altman was reinstated, and OpenAI expanded its board membership.
OpenAI Continues to Prioritize AI Safety
Despite these shifts, OpenAI continues to prioritize AI safety. Sam Altman recently announced an agreement with the US AI Safety Institute to provide early access to their next foundation model, aimed at advancing AI evaluation science. OpenAI has also committed 20% of its computing resources to safety initiatives.
On the same day as Schulman's announcement, Greg Brockman, another OpenAI co-founder and its president, declared a sabbatical for the rest of the year, signaling further changes within the organization.
Significant Change in the AI Industry
Schulman's move to Anthropic underscores a significant change within the AI industry, as leading figures seek new avenues to advance AI safety and alignment.
Source: CNBC - OpenAI co-founder John Schulman says he will leave and join rival Anthropic
Image: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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