Published on November 29, 2023, 1:08 am

A pressing demand for transparency is echoing from Silicon Valley, as a Democratic congressman urges OpenAI, the developer of artificial general intelligence software ChatGPT, to clear up the mystery surrounding the recent dismissal and reappointment of co-founder and CEO Sam Altman.

During an appearance on “Squawk Box” on CNBC, Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) called for a more detailed understanding of the events that unfolded behind closed doors at OpenAI just last week. The current speculation suggests that these activities may have been triggered by a significant innovation – an artificial general intelligence system known as Q*, capable of tackling intricate mathematical problems. This has supposedly spurred safety concerns within the organization.

“We don’t know. We should know”, Khanna stated emphatically. Addressing all journalists, he added: “Every journalist should demand that OpenAI’s board tell us what the safety concerns were”. His concern lies with a perceptible lack of openness regarding this issue which he found troubling.

Among his suggested actions in response to this situation, Khanna hinted at potentially joining forces with fellow House members in drafting a letter advocating greater openness or possibly convening a hearing on the matter.

OpenAI initially provided few insights into why it had chosen to let go of Altman back on November 17th. The reasons pointed towards claims that Altman was apparently withholding information from the board, therefore affecting its ability to fulfill its responsibilities.

Despite these accusations and amid threats of staff upheaval and possible departure to Microsoft specifically instigated by Altman himself, OpenAI chose to reverse their decision by reinstating him and planning alterations to their board — those who originally dismissed him.

Alongside these issues was Khanna’s recent proposal for bipartisan legislation aimed at coordinating efforts between the United States and Five Eyes intelligence allies in relation to artificial intelligence developments. He also suggested establishing a governmental agency focused on AI development oversight and technology licensing when required.

While pointing out issues with the lack of transparency, Khanna also highlighted broader concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. He emphasized, in particular, wealth disparity as potentially one of the major problems that could be further aggravated by advanced AI technologies.

Referencing the increasing division within society, he described a situation where “the 1% of this country control” approximately one-third of the wealth while the bottom half possess only 2%. Expressing concern for the potential implications on workers and ordinary citizens, Khanna asks: What’s going to happen to them when companies in my district thrive off of AI?

These questions are part of a larger conversation revolving around trusted news regarding economic disparities and their potential intensification by technological advancements, from a Christian worldview which emphasizes social justice. When it comes to real news on critical subjects such as these, thorough scrutiny and understanding ensure we continue taking steps towards systemic changes.