THIS PAST SPRING, SAM ALTMAN, the 38-year-old CEO of OpenAl, sat down with Silicon Valley's favorite Buddhist monk, Jack Kornfield. This was at Wisdom 2.0, a low-stakes event at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a forum dedicated to merging wisdom and "the great technologies of our age." The two men occupied huge white upholstered chairs on a dark mandala-backed stage. Even the moderator seemed confused by Altman's presence.
"What brought you here?" he asked.
"Yeah, um, look," Altman said. "I'm definitely interested in this topic"-officially, mindfulness and AI. "But, ah, meeting Jack has been one of the great joys of my life. I'd be delighted to come hang out with Jack for literally any topic."
It was only when Kornfield-who is 78 and whose books, including The Wise Heart, have sold more than a million copies-made his introductory remarks that the agenda became clear.
"My experience is that Sam ... the language I'd like to use is that he's very much a servant leader." Kornfield was here to testify to the excellence of Altman's character. He would answer the question that's been plaguing a lot of us: How safe should we feel with Altman, given that this relatively young man in charcoal Chelsea boots and a gray waffle henley appears to be controlling how AI will enter our world?
Kornfield said he had known Altman for several years. They meditated together. They explored the question: How could Altman "build in values-the bodhisattva vows, to care for all beings"? How could compassion and care "be programmed in in some way, in the deepest way?"
Denne historien er fra September 25 - October 08, 2023-utgaven av New York magazine.
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Denne historien er fra September 25 - October 08, 2023-utgaven av New York magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Trapped in Time
A woman relives the same day in a stunning Danish novel.
Polyphonic City
A SOFT, SHIMMERING beauty permeates the images of Mumbai that open Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light. For all the nighttime bustle on display-the heave of people, the constant activity and chaos-Kapadia shoots with a flair for the illusory.
Lear at the Fountain of Youth
Kenneth Branagh's production is nipped, tucked, and facile.
A Belfast Lad Goes Home
After playing some iconic Americans, Anthony Boyle is a beloved IRA commander in a riveting new series about the Troubles.
The Pluck of the Irish
Artists from the Indiana-size island continue to dominate popular culture. Online, they've gained a rep as the \"good Europeans.\"
Houston's on Houston
The Corner Store is like an upscale chain for downtown scene-chasers.
A Brownstone That's Pink Inside
Artist Vivian Reiss's Murray Hill house of whimsy.
These Jeans Made Me Gay
The Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe pants complete my queer style.
Manic, STONED, Throttle, No Brakes
Less than six months after her Gagosian sölu show, the artist JAMIAN JULIANO-VILLAND lost her gallery and all her money and was preparing for an exhibition with two the biggest living American artists.
WHO EVER THOUGHT THAT BRIGHT PINK MEAT THAT LASTS FOR WEEKS WAS A GOOD IDEA?
Deli Meat Is Rotten
