Published in AI

Elon Musk claims to have invented OpenAI

by on17 May 2023


Just like he did Tesla 

The soon to be former supreme twit Elon [look at me] Musk claims he invented OpenAI and even came up with the name.

Musk told CNBC's David Faber that he was the "reason OpenAI exists"  he invested around $50 million and was "instrumental" in recruiting key scientists and engineers.

He didn't write any code, but he was the "brain" behind the name. OpenAI, which started out as a non-profit, refers to "open source" Musk said. We can see how that would take the mind of a genius to work out.

It is true that Musk was an early investor in OpenAI and he and the startup's current CEO, Sam Altman, were two of the cofounders back in 2015. But Tesla and SpaceX CEO left OpenAI's board in 2018 — a year before it became a "capped-profit" company. After Musk left AI attracted a huge amount of interest and Musk looked like he was the bloke who refused to invest in the light bulb because he thought candles were still the way forward.

Microsoft bought OpenAI and started installing it into its products, catching even Google on the hop. Musk responded rather badly claiming that OpenAI was becoming a "maximum profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft," which was not what he "intended at all."

"It does seem weird that something can be a non-profit, open source and somehow transform itself into a for-profit, closed source. This would be like, let's say you found an organisation to save the Amazon rainforest, and instead, they become a lumber company, and chop down the forest, and sold it for money."

Musk told CNBC Vole could "cut off OpenAI" at any point and has a lot of control over the startup.

"I also think it's important to understand when push comes to shove — let's say they create some digital super-intelligence, almost god-like intelligence, who's in control? What is exactly the relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft?"

For someone who apparently invented the technology, Musk has been vocal about it being a "danger to the public." In March, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX signed an open letter alongside Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak, AI experts, and scientists calling for a six-month pause on advanced AI development.

However, this might have a more mercenary cause. Musk is setting up his own generative AI company called X.AI, and advancing an AI project within Twitter. Maybe he just wants six months so he can catch up to Microsoft after dropping the ball in 2018.

 

Last modified on 17 May 2023
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