Sam Altman went before the US Congress last week and gave American lawmakers a clear message - regulate artificial intelligence.
"I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong," said the co-founder of OpenAI, which created the ChatGPT intelligence chatbot that has taken the world by storm.
Altman may have a hit product on his hands, but he is a contradictory figure in tech. He has turned OpenAI from an open source, non-profit organisation created with the aim of countering the power of Google and other Big Tech players into a for-profit enterprise propped up by a US$10 billion investment from Microsoft.
ChatGPT stands to become one of the biggest cash cows since Google invented its ubiquitous search engine. Even Elon Musk, the billionaire who had a hand in OpenAI's creation before parting ways with Altman, sees a problem with that.
"Let's say you funded an organisation to save the Amazon Rainforest and instead they became a lumber company and chopped down the forest and sold it for money," was how he put it last week.
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Denne historien er fra June 3-9 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
