OpenAI has lost (and keeps losing) many star players while Google, Anthropic, and other AI shops are catching up—and overtaking—OpenAI's lead. A small change in California's labor laws might be why.
Since all the public announcements have involved some combination of the company being reckless with AI safety and people not trusting Sam Altman and what he's up to, I think that's a much more plausible reason than the minutia of California law, especially since everything started out in California, and no new major laws have been passed. Open AI was founded on the principles and attracted people on the basis of creating safe AI for everyone and Sam Altman is turning this into his personal to turn it into the biggest international economic empire in history and is racing ahead in ways that violate every safety principle that was laid out at the beginning. There's no need to go to obscure laws to explain this at all. People are leaving for the same reason that the board attempted to oust Sam Altman. He lies a lot and he's dangerous.
There is pattern to technical waves. The social media wave is too close to see clearly. But, before social media was the wave created by Google labs, which manifested as apps. Before that there were open source projects under the umbrella of Apache governance, which directly manifested into the backbone of the internet, and also indirectly, manifested into the blockchain.
The fractal core of this pattern is that they opened a path for a young adult who was willing to - work hard, or smart, or whatever it takes to have something consistent with their culture's ideal of success.
The initial promise: "go west, young man" updated to "buy a computer* learn how to used it (speak BASIC) and you will go far."
In a yin-yang relationship. There is the solo innovator, for whom new technology opens a path around the gatekeepers. And the gatekeepers, who sniff out innovation and feed upon it.
I’m hoping the departures are more “Why would I build this for OpenAI when I can build my own cool thing.” In that case, it is a relatively healthy competitive atmosphere.
Of course we don’t know.
As for Sam knowing / not knowing about the embarrassing exit clause…my wife started an interior design business and I realized months later that our overtime/PTO policy was illegal.
I know he has way more checks and balances AND he’s from YC, but my point is that stuff like that can easily slip past the CEO when they’re laser focused on building a profitable business.
Since all the public announcements have involved some combination of the company being reckless with AI safety and people not trusting Sam Altman and what he's up to, I think that's a much more plausible reason than the minutia of California law, especially since everything started out in California, and no new major laws have been passed. Open AI was founded on the principles and attracted people on the basis of creating safe AI for everyone and Sam Altman is turning this into his personal to turn it into the biggest international economic empire in history and is racing ahead in ways that violate every safety principle that was laid out at the beginning. There's no need to go to obscure laws to explain this at all. People are leaving for the same reason that the board attempted to oust Sam Altman. He lies a lot and he's dangerous.
Keen to see your view on o3 Dave
There is pattern to technical waves. The social media wave is too close to see clearly. But, before social media was the wave created by Google labs, which manifested as apps. Before that there were open source projects under the umbrella of Apache governance, which directly manifested into the backbone of the internet, and also indirectly, manifested into the blockchain.
The fractal core of this pattern is that they opened a path for a young adult who was willing to - work hard, or smart, or whatever it takes to have something consistent with their culture's ideal of success.
The initial promise: "go west, young man" updated to "buy a computer* learn how to used it (speak BASIC) and you will go far."
In a yin-yang relationship. There is the solo innovator, for whom new technology opens a path around the gatekeepers. And the gatekeepers, who sniff out innovation and feed upon it.
I’m hoping the departures are more “Why would I build this for OpenAI when I can build my own cool thing.” In that case, it is a relatively healthy competitive atmosphere.
Of course we don’t know.
As for Sam knowing / not knowing about the embarrassing exit clause…my wife started an interior design business and I realized months later that our overtime/PTO policy was illegal.
I know he has way more checks and balances AND he’s from YC, but my point is that stuff like that can easily slip past the CEO when they’re laser focused on building a profitable business.
Yes, I’m still being an OpenAI fanboy. 😆