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OpenAI Executives Rattled by Campaigns to Derail For-Profit Restructuring

(www.wsj.com)
38 points spenvo | 4 comments | 09 Sep 25 01:26 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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simianwords ◴[09 Sep 25 06:51 UTC] No.45178394[source]▶
I have so many questions. Firstly, it is clear that OpenAI started as a non profit to gain some benefits. I think the branding really helps here especially when dealing with what is apparently a dangerous and disruptive technology.

The branding also helps position the employees and the ceo as “for humanity” rather than for profit. This has non tangible benefits.

But what did they really think would happen? Surely they would need funding but who would risk funding this kind of company where the returns are extremely high risk?

If it has to remain non profit, could the state fund OpenAI instead?

replies(2): >>45178744 #>>45189783 #
1. PeterStuer ◴[09 Sep 25 07:39 UTC] No.45178744[source]▶
Are you saying it was obviously and intentionally a bait and switch from the start?
replies(2): >>45178930 #>>45178958 #
2. Nevermark ◴[09 Sep 25 08:01 UTC] No.45178930[source]▶
Nobody knew how well models were going to scale up in usefulness, by (mostly) just scaling up training data, training times and architecture sizes.

Despite already using high data, high computation, low complexity solvers (I.e. deep learning), the Bitter Lesson continued to surprise!

At the point it became clear scale of data, parameters & compute were the top three (!) high bits for success, they would have realized (correctly) that staying a pure non-profit would rapidly make them irrelevant.

Setting aside any personal greed by anyone, the problem is still there.

Staying or reverting to a pure non-profit doesn’t provide the resources the non-profit’s mission requires.

Which was to have real safety impact at the cutting edge, not just publish safety related papers from the gallery.

TLDR; They absolutely need profits as part of their structure, or their non-profit mission is unattainable. But all the outside pressure they are getting as they adapt, is necessary to ensure the new structure remains committed to the mission.

replies(1): >>45179247 #
3. simianwords ◴[09 Sep 25 08:05 UTC] No.45178958[source]▶
I don't know but how else did they plan to raise money?
4. ycombinatrix ◴[09 Sep 25 08:39 UTC] No.45179247[source]▶
What are you on about? "They absolutely need profits" do you know what a non-profit is?