Two former OpenAI researchers who resigned this year over safety concerns say they are disappointed but not surprised by OpenAI’s decision to oppose California’s bill to prevent AI disasters, SB 1047. Daniel Kokotajlo and William Saunders previously warned that OpenAI is in a “reckless” race for dominance.
“Sam Altman, our former boss, has repeatedly called for AI regulation,” they write in a letter that was shared with Politico and which urges California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the bill. “Now, when actual regulation is on the table, he opposes it.” The two add that, “With appropriate regulation, we hope OpenAI may yet live up to its mission statement of building AGI safely.”
OpenAI rival Anthropic has expressed support for the bill while presenting specific concerns and asking for amendments. Several have since been incorporated, and on Thursday, CEO Dario Amodei wrote to Newsom, saying the current bill’s “benefits likely outweigh its costs,” while not fully endorsing the bill.