Iterative Deployment
As Sam Altman discussed, OpenAI's strategy of iterative deployment is a key part of their approach to AI development. Rather than keeping progress hidden until a major milestone is reached, OpenAI has chosen to regularly release new models and capabilities, allowing the world to adapt and prepare for the advances to come.
This iterative approach serves several important purposes:
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Avoiding Surprise Updates: Altman emphasized that "AI and surprise don't go together." By regularly updating the public on their progress, OpenAI aims to prevent shock and sudden shifts that could be disruptive or concerning.
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Enabling Adaptation: The gradual release of new AI capabilities gives institutions, policymakers, and society as a whole time to think about the implications and put appropriate systems and structures in place before these technologies become widely deployed.
As Altman put it, "the world, people, institutions, whatever you want to call it, need time to adapt and think about these things."
- Maintaining Transparency: Altman acknowledged that the iterative approach may mean OpenAI is "somehow missing the mark" in terms of meeting people's expectations for major milestones. However, this transparency is a deliberate choice to keep the public informed and involved in the AI development process.
[Diagram to be made of the iterative deployment process, showing how new capabilities are gradually released over time]
Lessons Learned from the Board Saga
Altman's experience with the OpenAI board drama reinforced the importance of this iterative approach. He noted that the "chaotic and shameful" events of that weekend taught him and the company valuable lessons about the need for robust governance structures and processes.
Step 1
Altman recognized that as AI capabilities advance, the "need to have a board and a team that are good at operating under pressure" will only increase.
Step 2
The board saga highlighted the challenges of balancing power and oversight, with Altman acknowledging that in a nonprofit structure, the board can have "quite a lot of power" without sufficient accountability.
Moving forward, Altman emphasized the importance of building a diverse board with the right expertise to provide effective governance and stewardship as OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of AI development.
[Link to the "New Board Structure" section for more details on the changes made to the OpenAI board]
By embracing an iterative deployment strategy and learning from past challenges, OpenAI aims to navigate the complex and high-stakes landscape of artificial intelligence in a thoughtful and responsible manner, keeping the public informed and involved every step of the way.