OpenAI researcher Jan Leike announced his departure from the company on May 17. In a thread on social media platform X, Leike expressed his gratitude for his time at OpenAI but also shared his reasons for leaving.
Leike described his three-year journey at OpenAI as a wild one and initially believed it to be the best place for his research. However, he stated that he had been in disagreement with the company leadership and their core priorities for some time, leading to a breaking point that prompted his resignation.
One of the primary concerns Leike raised was the lack of emphasis on safety culture and processes at OpenAI. He stressed the importance of transitioning the company to a safety-first approach, specifically in preparation for future AI models, security, monitoring, and societal impact. Leike expressed his worries that OpenAI was not on the right path in terms of aligning their priorities with the potential dangers of developing AGI.
Leike underscored the immense responsibility that comes with building machines smarter than humans and urged OpenAI to prioritize preparing for the implications of AGI. He emphasized the need for the company to take crucial steps in ensuring that AGI benefits humanity as a whole.
