Kelvin Chan

Elon Musk supported making OpenAI a for-profit company, the ChatGPT maker said, attacking a lawsuit from the wealthy investor, who has accused the artificial intelligence business of betraying its founding goal to benefit humanity as it pursued profits instead.

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Elon Musk supported making OpenAI a for-profit company, the ChatGPT maker said, attacking a lawsuit from the wealthy investor, who has accused the artificial intelligence business of betraying its founding goal to benefit humanity as it pursued profits instead.

In its first response since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-sam-altman-openai-chatgpt-425186c7640aa3d0956e99314a9240e2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla CEO sued last week</a>, OpenAI vowed to get the claim thrown out and released emails from Musk, escalating the feud between the San Francisco-based company and the billionaire that bankrolled its creation years ago.

In its first response since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-sam-altman-openai-chatgpt-425186c7640aa3d0956e99314a9240e2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla CEO sued last week</a>, OpenAI vowed to get the claim thrown out and released emails from Musk, escalating the feud between the San Francisco-based company and the billionaire that bankrolled its creation years ago.

“The mission of OpenAI is to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity, which means both building safe and beneficial AGI and helping create broadly distributed benefits,” OpenAI said in&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/blog/openai-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a blog post</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday from five company executives and computer scientists, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/altman-openai-chatgpt-31187f7f6eca8ff9d0eef7585aac6ace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEO Sam Altman</a>. “We intend to move to dismiss all of Elon’s claims.&#8221;

“The mission of OpenAI is to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity, which means both building safe and beneficial AGI and helping create broadly distributed benefits,” OpenAI said in&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/blog/openai-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a blog post</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday from five company executives and computer scientists, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/altman-openai-chatgpt-31187f7f6eca8ff9d0eef7585aac6ace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEO Sam Altman</a>. “We intend to move to dismiss all of Elon’s claims."

“The mission of OpenAI is to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity, which means both building safe and beneficial AGI and helping create broadly distributed benefits,” OpenAI said in&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/blog/openai-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a blog post</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday from five company executives and computer scientists, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/altman-openai-chatgpt-31187f7f6eca8ff9d0eef7585aac6ace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEO Sam Altman</a>. “We intend to move to dismiss all of Elon’s claims.&#8221;

AGI refers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-davos-chatgpt-microsoft-277f4d10191397cfa5929901720d60c0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial general intelligence</a>, which are general purpose AI systems that can perform just as well as—or even better than—humans in a wide variety of tasks.

AGI refers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-davos-chatgpt-microsoft-277f4d10191397cfa5929901720d60c0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial general intelligence</a>, which are general purpose AI systems that can perform just as well as—or even better than—humans in a wide variety of tasks.

The lawsuit from Musk, who now has his own AI startup, says that when he funded OpenAI as it was launching, he secured an agreement that the research lab would remain a nonprofit to develop technology for the public&#8217;s benefit.

The lawsuit from Musk, who now has his own AI startup, says that when he funded OpenAI as it was launching, he secured an agreement that the research lab would remain a nonprofit to develop technology for the public's benefit.

The lawsuit from Musk, who now has his own AI startup, says that when he funded OpenAI as it was launching, he secured an agreement that the research lab would remain a nonprofit to develop technology for the public&#8217;s benefit.

His lawsuit claims breach of contract and seeks an injunction preventing anyone—including Microsoft, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-artificial-intelligence-03f157ddc482ef76f4999b929eaac7bf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invested billions in OpenAI</a>—from benefiting financially from its technology.

His lawsuit claims breach of contract and seeks an injunction preventing anyone—including Microsoft, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-artificial-intelligence-03f157ddc482ef76f4999b929eaac7bf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invested billions in OpenAI</a>—from benefiting financially from its technology.

OpenAI said both the startup and Musk recognized the need for the company to become a for-profit entity to gain enough resources to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-artificial-intelligence-gemini-smartphones-microsoft-9044770f1228af38d1e532cc640fb990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compete with companies like Google</a>, posting screenshots of emails between the Tesla CEO and OpenAI leaders in which they discuss the possibility but can&#8217;t agree on terms.

OpenAI said both the startup and Musk recognized the need for the company to become a for-profit entity to gain enough resources to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-artificial-intelligence-gemini-smartphones-microsoft-9044770f1228af38d1e532cc640fb990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compete with companies like Google</a>, posting screenshots of emails between the Tesla CEO and OpenAI leaders in which they discuss the possibility but can't agree on terms.

OpenAI said both the startup and Musk recognized the need for the company to become a for-profit entity to gain enough resources to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-artificial-intelligence-gemini-smartphones-microsoft-9044770f1228af38d1e532cc640fb990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compete with companies like Google</a>, posting screenshots of emails between the Tesla CEO and OpenAI leaders in which they discuss the possibility but can&#8217;t agree on terms.

“This needs billions per year immediately or forget it,” Musk said in an email about the level of funding OpenAI would need.

“This needs billions per year immediately or forget it,” Musk said in an email about the level of funding OpenAI would need.

FILE - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman participates in the "Technology in a turbulent world" panel discussion during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2024. Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman over what he says is a betrayal of the ChatGPT maker's founding aims of benefiting humanity rather than pursuing profits. In a lawsuit filed Thursday Feb. 29, 2024 at San Francisco Superior Court, billionaire Musk said that when he bankrolled OpenAI's creation, he secured an agreement with Altman and Greg Brockman, the president, to keep the AI company as a non-profit that would develop technology for the benefit of the public. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ap24061437635745.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man gestures while speaking, microphone nearby, against a blue backdrop with blurred circular lights." class="wp-image-256571"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, said the company intends to dismiss Elon Musk&#8217;s lawsuit.</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ap24061437635745.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man gestures while speaking, microphone nearby, against a blue backdrop with blurred circular lights." class="wp-image-256571"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, said the company intends to dismiss Elon Musk's lawsuit.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ap24061437635745.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man gestures while speaking, microphone nearby, against a blue backdrop with blurred circular lights." class="wp-image-256571"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, said the company intends to dismiss Elon Musk&#8217;s lawsuit.</figcaption></figure>

Musk on Wednesday posted a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/21/openai-governance-structure-explainer/">laughing emoji</a> in response to an X user who said OpenAI should be renamed OpenEmail.

Who’s in control? Behind OpenAI’s convoluted corporate structure

Musk on Wednesday posted a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/21/openai-governance-structure-explainer/">laughing emoji</a> in response to an X user who said OpenAI should be renamed OpenEmail.

“Change your name,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765262842498847174" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Musk also replied</a> on the social media platform he owns, which was formerly known as Twitter.

“Change your name," <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765262842498847174" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Musk also replied</a> on the social media platform he owns, which was formerly known as Twitter.

“Change your name,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765262842498847174" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Musk also replied</a> on the social media platform he owns, which was formerly known as Twitter.

The law firm that brought Musk’s case to court didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The law firm that brought Musk’s case to court didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Musk was an early investor in OpenAI when it was founded in 2015 and co-chaired its board alongside Altman. He said in his lawsuit that he invested “tens of millions” of dollars in OpenAI.

Musk was an early investor in OpenAI when it was founded in 2015 and co-chaired its board alongside Altman. He said in his lawsuit that he invested “tens of millions” of dollars in OpenAI.

However, the company said that while Musk invested less than $45 million, it has raised more than $90 million from other donors.

However, the company said that while Musk invested less than $45 million, it has raised more than $90 million from other donors.

OpenAI said that by 2017, the company leaders started to realize that building artificial general intelligence would take vast amounts of computing power.

OpenAI said that by 2017, the company leaders started to realize that building artificial general intelligence would take vast amounts of computing power.

“We all understood we were going to need a lot more capital to succeed at our mission—billions of dollars per year, which was far more than any of us, especially Elon, thought we’d be able to raise as the non-profit,” it said.

“We all understood we were going to need a lot more capital to succeed at our mission—billions of dollars per year, which was far more than any of us, especially Elon, thought we’d be able to raise as the non-profit,” it said.

In discussions, OpenAI says Musk demanded to be CEO and majority shareholder and have control of the board, but OpenAI executives didn&#8217;t think any single person should have “absolute control.”

In discussions, OpenAI says Musk demanded to be CEO and majority shareholder and have control of the board, but OpenAI executives didn't think any single person should have “absolute control.”

In discussions, OpenAI says Musk demanded to be CEO and majority shareholder and have control of the board, but OpenAI executives didn&#8217;t think any single person should have “absolute control.”

Musk then suggested OpenAI could be merged with Tesla so that the electric car maker could act as a “cash cow” to compete with Google&#8217;s well-funded AI efforts.

Musk then suggested OpenAI could be merged with Tesla so that the electric car maker could act as a “cash cow” to compete with Google's well-funded AI efforts.

Musk then suggested OpenAI could be merged with Tesla so that the electric car maker could act as a “cash cow” to compete with Google&#8217;s well-funded AI efforts.

It didn&#8217;t happen, and Musk instead left to build his own artificial general intelligence startup,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-xai-2e626553cf6333f642fb02fe247707ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">xAI</a>, while remaining supportive of OpenAI&#8217;s plans to raise billions of dollars, the company said.

It didn't happen, and Musk instead left to build his own artificial general intelligence startup,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-xai-2e626553cf6333f642fb02fe247707ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">xAI</a>, while remaining supportive of OpenAI's plans to raise billions of dollars, the company said.

It didn&#8217;t happen, and Musk instead left to build his own artificial general intelligence startup,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-xai-2e626553cf6333f642fb02fe247707ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">xAI</a>, while remaining supportive of OpenAI&#8217;s plans to raise billions of dollars, the company said.

OpenAI also pushed back against Musk&#8217;s argument that it broke its promise to keep its code open to the public instead of walling it off for private gains.

OpenAI also pushed back against Musk's argument that it broke its promise to keep its code open to the public instead of walling it off for private gains.

OpenAI also pushed back against Musk&#8217;s argument that it broke its promise to keep its code open to the public instead of walling it off for private gains.

It posted an email from chief scientist Ilya Sutskever saying that open sourcing everything lets “someone unscrupulous” build “unsafe AI” and that “it&#8217;s totally OK to not share the science.” Musk replied, “Yup.&#8221;

It posted an email from chief scientist Ilya Sutskever saying that open sourcing everything lets “someone unscrupulous” build “unsafe AI” and that “it's totally OK to not share the science.” Musk replied, “Yup."

It posted an email from chief scientist Ilya Sutskever saying that open sourcing everything lets “someone unscrupulous” build “unsafe AI” and that “it&#8217;s totally OK to not share the science.” Musk replied, “Yup.&#8221;

OpenAI says Elon Musk agreed the company should become a for-profit

Kevin V. Nguyen

Kevin Truong

OpenAI has signed San Francisco&#8217;s biggest office lease of the year, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal. This comes on top of last year&#8217;s record lease by the fast-growing company.

OpenAI has signed San Francisco's biggest office lease of the year, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal. This comes on top of last year's record lease by the fast-growing company.

OpenAI has signed San Francisco&#8217;s biggest office lease of the year, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal. This comes on top of last year&#8217;s record lease by the fast-growing company.

A year after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/27/openai-uber-headquarters-mission-bay/">subleasing nearly half a million square feet</a> from Uber&#8217;s Mission Bay headquarters, OpenAI just finalized a lease for 350,000 square feet at 550 Terry A. Francois Blvd., the former headquarters of Old Navy.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI officially inks massive San Francisco office lease

A year after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/27/openai-uber-headquarters-mission-bay/">subleasing nearly half a million square feet</a> from Uber's Mission Bay headquarters, OpenAI just finalized a lease for 350,000 square feet at 550 Terry A. Francois Blvd., the former headquarters of Old Navy.

A year after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/27/openai-uber-headquarters-mission-bay/">subleasing nearly half a million square feet</a> from Uber&#8217;s Mission Bay headquarters, OpenAI just finalized a lease for 350,000 square feet at 550 Terry A. Francois Blvd., the former headquarters of Old Navy.

Gap Inc., the parent company of Old Navy, sold the property to investor DivcoWest&nbsp;in 2022 for $356 million, or $1,130 per square foot.

Gap Inc., the parent company of Old Navy, sold the property to investor DivcoWest&nbsp;in 2022 for $356 million, or $1,130 per square foot.

The deal brings OpenAI&#8217;s total square footage to just under 1 million square feet; this includes several smaller offices in the Mission. The San Francisco Business Times was the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/20/openai-signs-another-huge-lease-in-san-francisco.html">first to report</a> the deal.

The deal brings OpenAI's total square footage to just under 1 million square feet; this includes several smaller offices in the Mission. The San Francisco Business Times was the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/20/openai-signs-another-huge-lease-in-san-francisco.html">first to report</a> the deal.

The deal brings OpenAI&#8217;s total square footage to just under 1 million square feet; this includes several smaller offices in the Mission. The San Francisco Business Times was the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/20/openai-signs-another-huge-lease-in-san-francisco.html">first to report</a> the deal.

An employee walks toward the entrance of the OpenAI building on 575 Florida Street in San Francisco on Friday, June 7, 2024.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240603_openaiguards-tv0311.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman is seen walking past a gate in a photo." class="wp-image-282010"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The entrance of the OpenAI building on Florida Street. The company has moved the bulk of its office holdings from the Mission to Mission Bay.</figcaption></figure>

Uber corporate employees work inside the headquarters at 1455 3rd St. in Mission Bay of San Francisco  on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, as drivers and gig workers announce that they are unionizing.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Featured_UberRapeSuit09282023.jpg?w=1641" alt="The image shows the large &quot;Uber&quot; logo on the exterior of a modern building with glass facade and reflections." class="wp-image-205402"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Last year, OpenAI subleased 455,000 square feet of Uber&#8217;s headquarters.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Featured_UberRapeSuit09282023.jpg?w=1641" alt="The image shows the large &quot;Uber&quot; logo on the exterior of a modern building with glass facade and reflections." class="wp-image-205402"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Last year, OpenAI subleased 455,000 square feet of Uber's headquarters.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Featured_UberRapeSuit09282023.jpg?w=1641" alt="The image shows the large &quot;Uber&quot; logo on the exterior of a modern building with glass facade and reflections." class="wp-image-205402"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Last year, OpenAI subleased 455,000 square feet of Uber&#8217;s headquarters.</figcaption></figure>

Preliminary data released Wednesday by real estate services firm CBRE show that San Francisco office vacancies rose 0.3% in the third quarter to 37.3% — the highest ever in the city.

Preliminary data released Wednesday by real estate services firm CBRE show that San Francisco office vacancies rose 0.3% in the third quarter to 37.3% — the highest ever in the city.

But availability, or office space ready to lease, remained stable at 39.1% between the second and third quarters, the firm said — signaling that the city&#8217;s<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/19/office-market-q3-2024.html">&nbsp;office market may be at or near peak vacancy.</a>

But availability, or office space ready to lease, remained stable at 39.1% between the second and third quarters, the firm said — signaling that the city's<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/19/office-market-q3-2024.html">&nbsp;office market may be at or near peak vacancy.</a>

But availability, or office space ready to lease, remained stable at 39.1% between the second and third quarters, the firm said — signaling that the city&#8217;s<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/09/19/office-market-q3-2024.html">&nbsp;office market may be at or near peak vacancy.</a>

Outside of a handful of large deals, the majority of office leasing activity in San Francisco over the last year has been <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/08/san-franciscos-hottest-office-market-heats-up/">spaces between 3,000 and 20,000</a> square feet, according to data from real estate firm Avison Young.

This sizzling AI company was outgrowing its home. SF&#8217;s hottest office market was ready

Outside of a handful of large deals, the majority of office leasing activity in San Francisco over the last year has been <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/08/san-franciscos-hottest-office-market-heats-up/">spaces between 3,000 and 20,000</a> square feet, according to data from real estate firm Avison Young.

After OpenAI&#8217;s deal Friday, the total AI footprint in San Francisco jumped from 4.3 million to 4.7 million square feet, according to real estate firm JLL, which calculated that roughly 15% of all office deals this year have been signed by companies in that industry.

After OpenAI's deal Friday, the total AI footprint in San Francisco jumped from 4.3 million to 4.7 million square feet, according to real estate firm JLL, which calculated that roughly 15% of all office deals this year have been signed by companies in that industry.

After OpenAI&#8217;s deal Friday, the total AI footprint in San Francisco jumped from 4.3 million to 4.7 million square feet, according to real estate firm JLL, which calculated that roughly 15% of all office deals this year have been signed by companies in that industry.

Neither DivcoWest nor OpenAI could immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Neither DivcoWest nor OpenAI could immediately be reached for comment Friday.

With SF’s biggest lease of the year, OpenAI now occupies nearly 1 million square feet

Garrison Lovely

At least 113 current and former employees of leading AI companies have signed an open letter in support of SB 1047, the bitterly contested AI safety bill authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener. <a href="https://calltolead.org/">The letter</a>, published early Monday, revealed that more than three dozen signatories openly contradict their employers&#8217; official stance against the bill.

At least 113 current and former employees of leading AI companies have signed an open letter in support of SB 1047, the bitterly contested AI safety bill authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener. <a href="https://calltolead.org/">The letter</a>, published early Monday, revealed that more than three dozen signatories openly contradict their employers' official stance against the bill.

At least 113 current and former employees of leading AI companies have signed an open letter in support of SB 1047, the bitterly contested AI safety bill authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener. <a href="https://calltolead.org/">The letter</a>, published early Monday, revealed that more than three dozen signatories openly contradict their employers&#8217; official stance against the bill.

<a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1047">SB 1047</a> would establish liability for developers of AI models that cause a catastrophe if the developer didn’t take appropriate safety measures. The legislation would apply only to developers of models that cost at least $100 million to train and do business in California, the world’s fifth-largest economy.

<a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1047">SB 1047</a> would establish liability for developers of AI models that cause a catastrophe if the developer didn’t take appropriate safety measures. The legislation would apply only to developers of models that cost at least $100 million to train and do business in California, the world’s fifth-largest economy.

The <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/28/sb-1047-ai-safety-bill-scott-wiener-nancy-pelosi/">bill recently passed</a> both houses of California’s Legislature with <a href="https://legiscan.com/CA/votes/SB1047/2023">strong majorities</a>. It now sits with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto it.&nbsp;

State lawmakers send controversial AI safety bill dividing local leaders to Newsom&#8217;s desk

The <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/28/sb-1047-ai-safety-bill-scott-wiener-nancy-pelosi/">bill recently passed</a> both houses of California’s Legislature with <a href="https://legiscan.com/CA/votes/SB1047/2023">strong majorities</a>. It now sits with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto it.&nbsp;

SB 1047 has exposed rifts in San Francisco and the wider tech world, scrambling the usual political coalitions. Opponents include Speaker Emerita <a href="https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-opposition-california-senate-bill-1047">Nancy Pelosi</a>, San Francisco Mayor <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/27/sb1047-ai-san-francisco-london-breed-scott-wiener/">London Breed</a>, AI “godmother” <a href="https://x.com/drfeifei/status/1820838100568056028">Fei-Fei Li</a>, and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/16/felicia-ben-horowitz-party-switch/">Trump-supporting</a> venture capitalists like <a href="https://stopsb1047.com/">Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz</a>.

London Breed comes out against ally Scott Wiener&#8217;s controversial AI safety bill

How ex-liberal billionaires Ben and Felicia Horowitz made a MAGA U-turn

SB 1047 has exposed rifts in San Francisco and the wider tech world, scrambling the usual political coalitions. Opponents include Speaker Emerita <a href="https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-opposition-california-senate-bill-1047">Nancy Pelosi</a>, San Francisco Mayor <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/27/sb1047-ai-san-francisco-london-breed-scott-wiener/">London Breed</a>, AI “godmother” <a href="https://x.com/drfeifei/status/1820838100568056028">Fei-Fei Li</a>, and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/16/felicia-ben-horowitz-party-switch/">Trump-supporting</a> venture capitalists like <a href="https://stopsb1047.com/">Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz</a>.

Proponents include <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1828205685386936567">Elon Musk</a> (who <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1814657489297719696">called</a> Wiener a “pedophile-apologist” in July), AI “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/27/18280665/ai-godfathers-turing-award-2018-yoshua-bengio-geoffrey-hinton-yann-lecun">godfathers</a>” <a href="https://safesecureai.org/experts">Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio</a>, and the progressive youth advocacy group <a href="https://encodejustice.org/who-we-are/">Encode Justice</a>.

Proponents include <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1828205685386936567">Elon Musk</a> (who <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1814657489297719696">called</a> Wiener a “pedophile-apologist” in July), AI “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/27/18280665/ai-godfathers-turing-award-2018-yoshua-bengio-geoffrey-hinton-yann-lecun">godfathers</a>” <a href="https://safesecureai.org/experts">Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio</a>, and the progressive youth advocacy group <a href="https://encodejustice.org/who-we-are/">Encode Justice</a>.

A common complaint from critics is that SB 1047 is <a href="https://lofgren.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/lofgren.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/8.7.24%20to%20Senator%20Wiener.pdf">well-intentioned</a> but not informed by experts. One prominent venture capitalist <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/0eb0527b-cca5-46ca-91e0-1240ce89ae3c">wrote</a> in a Financial Times op-ed that “the bill is a fundamental misunderstanding of the technology.”

A common complaint from critics is that SB 1047 is <a href="https://lofgren.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/lofgren.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/8.7.24%20to%20Senator%20Wiener.pdf">well-intentioned</a> but not informed by experts. One prominent venture capitalist <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/0eb0527b-cca5-46ca-91e0-1240ce89ae3c">wrote</a> in a Financial Times op-ed that “the bill is a fundamental misunderstanding of the technology.”

The employee letter — which was signed by heavy hitters, including Hinton, the former Google Brain researcher and Turing Award winner; Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah; former OpenAI researcher Jan Leike; and OpenAI <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/technology/openai-culture-whistleblowers.html">whistleblowers</a> Daniel Kokotajlo and William Saunders — represents a major challenge to this claim.

The employee letter — which was signed by heavy hitters, including Hinton, the former Google Brain researcher and Turing Award winner; Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah; former OpenAI researcher Jan Leike; and OpenAI <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/technology/openai-culture-whistleblowers.html">whistleblowers</a> Daniel Kokotajlo and William Saunders — represents a major challenge to this claim.

The brief letter warns “that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.” The signatories argue that reasonably safeguarding against these harms is “feasible and appropriate” for frontier AI companies. They conclude that SB 1047 “represents a meaningful step forward” and recommend that Newsom sign it into law.&nbsp;

The brief letter warns “that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.” The signatories argue that reasonably safeguarding against these harms is “feasible and appropriate” for frontier AI companies. They conclude that SB 1047 “represents a meaningful step forward” and recommend that Newsom sign it into law.&nbsp;

Thirty-seven signatories are employees of companies opposing the bill: 19 work for Google DeepMind, 15 are at OpenAI, and three are at Meta. In total, 70 people who signed the letter are staff or alumni of companies opposing SB 1047, with 13 from Google DeepMind and five from OpenAI; 25 are anonymous. 

Thirty-seven signatories are employees of companies opposing the bill: 19 work for Google DeepMind, 15 are at OpenAI, and three are at Meta. In total, 70 people who signed the letter are staff or alumni of companies opposing SB 1047, with 13 from Google DeepMind and five from OpenAI; 25 are anonymous.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the willingness of 10 OpenAI employees to come out openly in opposition to their company’s stance. In spite of CEO Sam Altman’s past <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/technology/openai-altman-artificial-intelligence-regulation.html">rhetorical support</a> for AI regulation, OpenAI has taken draconian steps to ensure silence from its employees and alumni. In May, Vox <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2024/5/17/24158478/openai-departures-sam-altman-employees-chatgpt-release">reported</a> that the company held outgoing employees’ vested equity hostage in exchange for lifetime NDA and non-disparagement agreements. Following external and internal outcry, Altman apologized and <a href="https://x.com/sama/status/1791936857594581428">claimed</a> ignorance, and OpenAI later <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-24/openai-releases-former-staffers-from-nondisparagement-clauses">scrapped</a> the agreements.&nbsp;

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the willingness of 10 OpenAI employees to come out openly in opposition to their company’s stance. In spite of CEO Sam Altman’s past <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/technology/openai-altman-artificial-intelligence-regulation.html">rhetorical support</a> for AI regulation, OpenAI has taken draconian steps to ensure silence from its employees and alumni. In May, Vox <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2024/5/17/24158478/openai-departures-sam-altman-employees-chatgpt-release">reported</a> that the company held outgoing employees’ vested equity hostage in exchange for lifetime NDA and non-disparagement agreements. Following external and internal outcry, Altman apologized and <a href="https://x.com/sama/status/1791936857594581428">claimed</a> ignorance, and OpenAI later <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-24/openai-releases-former-staffers-from-nondisparagement-clauses">scrapped</a> the agreements.&nbsp;

While staff from all the top AI companies signed <a href="https://www.safe.ai/work/statement-on-ai-risk">a May 2023 letter</a> stating that AI poses an existential risk, Monday’s letter may be the first time AI employees have publicly supported a concrete piece of legislation formally opposed by their employers.

While staff from all the top AI companies signed <a href="https://www.safe.ai/work/statement-on-ai-risk">a May 2023 letter</a> stating that AI poses an existential risk, Monday’s letter may be the first time AI employees have publicly supported a concrete piece of legislation formally opposed by their employers.

Nearly half of the letter’s signatories were Anthropic employees, nine of whom previously worked at OpenAI. In the fallout from Altman’s short-lived November firing and the equity clawback revelations, OpenAI has experienced an <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/08/26/openai-agi-safety-researchers-exodus/">exodus of safety researchers</a>.

Nearly half of the letter’s signatories were Anthropic employees, nine of whom previously worked at OpenAI. In the fallout from Altman’s short-lived November firing and the equity clawback revelations, OpenAI has experienced an <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/08/26/openai-agi-safety-researchers-exodus/">exodus of safety researchers</a>.

Anthropic, creator of the Claude family of chatbots, has been the <a href="https://observer.com/2024/08/openai-employees-join-anthropic/">most common destination</a> for these departing researchers. This trend mirrors the origin of the company, which was founded by an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/technology/openai-altman-board-fight.html#:~:text=Mr.%20Sutskever%E2%80%99s%20frustration%20with%20Mr.%20Altman,attempt%20to%20push%20Mr.%20Altman%20out.">earlier round</a> of safety-concerned OpenAI defectors.&nbsp;

Anthropic, creator of the Claude family of chatbots, has been the <a href="https://observer.com/2024/08/openai-employees-join-anthropic/">most common destination</a> for these departing researchers. This trend mirrors the origin of the company, which was founded by an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/technology/openai-altman-board-fight.html#:~:text=Mr.%20Sutskever%E2%80%99s%20frustration%20with%20Mr.%20Altman,attempt%20to%20push%20Mr.%20Altman%20out.">earlier round</a> of safety-concerned OpenAI defectors.&nbsp;

The first major crack in the AI industry’s <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/california-ai-safety-bill/#:~:text=According%20to%20its%20critics%2C%20SB,and%20destroy%20open%2Dsource%20development.">near-uniform resistance</a> to SB 1047 came in late August, when Anthropic published an <a href="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/4zrzovbb/website/6a3b14a98a781a6b69b9a3c5b65da26a44ecddc6.pdf">open letter</a> stating that the revised bill’s “benefits likely outweigh its costs.&#8221; (SB 1047 was <a href="https://safesecureai.org/amendments">amended</a> to address many of the company’s <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25003075-sia-sb-1047-anthropic">earlier concerns</a>.)&nbsp;

The first major crack in the AI industry’s <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/california-ai-safety-bill/#:~:text=According%20to%20its%20critics%2C%20SB,and%20destroy%20open%2Dsource%20development.">near-uniform resistance</a> to SB 1047 came in late August, when Anthropic published an <a href="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/4zrzovbb/website/6a3b14a98a781a6b69b9a3c5b65da26a44ecddc6.pdf">open letter</a> stating that the revised bill’s “benefits likely outweigh its costs." (SB 1047 was <a href="https://safesecureai.org/amendments">amended</a> to address many of the company’s <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25003075-sia-sb-1047-anthropic">earlier concerns</a>.)&nbsp;

The first major crack in the AI industry’s <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/california-ai-safety-bill/#:~:text=According%20to%20its%20critics%2C%20SB,and%20destroy%20open%2Dsource%20development.">near-uniform resistance</a> to SB 1047 came in late August, when Anthropic published an <a href="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/4zrzovbb/website/6a3b14a98a781a6b69b9a3c5b65da26a44ecddc6.pdf">open letter</a> stating that the revised bill’s “benefits likely outweigh its costs.&#8221; (SB 1047 was <a href="https://safesecureai.org/amendments">amended</a> to address many of the company’s <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25003075-sia-sb-1047-anthropic">earlier concerns</a>.)&nbsp;

Musk’s xAI hasn’t taken a formal position on the bill, but the founder and CEO broke his silence with an <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/26/elon-musk-openai-scott-wiener-sb1046/">endorsement</a> in late August.&nbsp;

Elon Musk says state should &#8216;probably pass&#8217; AI regulations maligned by Silicon Valley

Musk’s xAI hasn’t taken a formal position on the bill, but the founder and CEO broke his silence with an <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/26/elon-musk-openai-scott-wiener-sb1046/">endorsement</a> in late August.&nbsp;

It remains to be seen if the letter will be enough to sway Newsom, who was <a href="https://prospect.org/power/2024-08-28-tech-industry-push-poll-california-ai-bill/">seated between</a> Pelosi and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren at the Democratic National Convention in August. Lofgren, who represents parts of Silicon Valley, organized a <a href="https://democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2024-08-15%20to%20Gov%20Newsom_SB1047.pdf">letter</a> against SB 1047 signed by seven other California House Democrats. AI investors opposed to the bill <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91175604/big-tech-lobbyists-ai-safety-bill-gavin-newsom">have also hired lobbyists</a> with deep ties to the governor.&nbsp;

It remains to be seen if the letter will be enough to sway Newsom, who was <a href="https://prospect.org/power/2024-08-28-tech-industry-push-poll-california-ai-bill/">seated between</a> Pelosi and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren at the Democratic National Convention in August. Lofgren, who represents parts of Silicon Valley, organized a <a href="https://democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2024-08-15%20to%20Gov%20Newsom_SB1047.pdf">letter</a> against SB 1047 signed by seven other California House Democrats. AI investors opposed to the bill <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91175604/big-tech-lobbyists-ai-safety-bill-gavin-newsom">have also hired lobbyists</a> with deep ties to the governor.&nbsp;

Pelosi’s opposition to SB 1047, combined with her strange pattern of endorsements in San Francisco elections, has <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2024/08/19/ai-pelosi-house-seat-00174542">fueled</a><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/30/christine-pelosi-scott-wiener-shadow-campaign/"> speculation</a> that she is attempting to create momentum for her daughter Christine, who is <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/03/scott-wiener-pelosi-elections-california-00161159">rumored to be weighing</a> a run against Wiener for Pelosi’s congressional seat upon her retirement. The former House speaker has vigorously <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/30/christine-pelosi-scott-wiener-shadow-campaign/">disputed</a> this narrative, and her office declined to comment.

Christine Pelosi breaks her silence on the &#8216;shadow campaign&#8217; against Scott Wiener

Pelosi’s opposition to SB 1047, combined with her strange pattern of endorsements in San Francisco elections, has <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2024/08/19/ai-pelosi-house-seat-00174542">fueled</a><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/30/christine-pelosi-scott-wiener-shadow-campaign/"> speculation</a> that she is attempting to create momentum for her daughter Christine, who is <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/03/scott-wiener-pelosi-elections-california-00161159">rumored to be weighing</a> a run against Wiener for Pelosi’s congressional seat upon her retirement. The former House speaker has vigorously <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/30/christine-pelosi-scott-wiener-shadow-campaign/">disputed</a> this narrative, and her office declined to comment.

Dozens of AI workers turn against bosses, sign letter in support of Wiener AI bill

Matt O'Brien

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is looking to fuse its artificial intelligence systems into the bodies of&nbsp;humanoid robots&nbsp;as part of a new deal with robotics startup Figure.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is looking to fuse its artificial intelligence systems into the bodies of&nbsp;humanoid robots&nbsp;as part of a new deal with robotics startup Figure.

Sunnyvale-based Figure announced the partnership Thursday along with $675 million in venture capital funding from a group that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as well as Microsoft, chipmaker Nvidia and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon, Intel and OpenAI.

Sunnyvale-based Figure announced the partnership Thursday along with $675 million in venture capital funding from a group that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as well as Microsoft, chipmaker Nvidia and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon, Intel and OpenAI.

Figure is less than 2 years old and doesn&#8217;t have a commercial product but is persuading influential tech industry backers to support its vision of shipping billions of human-like robots to the world&#8217;s workplaces and homes.

Figure is less than 2 years old and doesn't have a commercial product but is persuading influential tech industry backers to support its vision of shipping billions of human-like robots to the world's workplaces and homes.

Figure is less than 2 years old and doesn&#8217;t have a commercial product but is persuading influential tech industry backers to support its vision of shipping billions of human-like robots to the world&#8217;s workplaces and homes.

“If we can just get humanoids to do work that humans are not wanting to do because there’s a shortfall of humans, we can sell millions of humanoids, billions maybe,” Figure CEO Brett Adcock told The Associated Press last year.

“If we can just get humanoids to do work that humans are not wanting to do because there’s a shortfall of humans, we can sell millions of humanoids, billions maybe,” Figure CEO Brett Adcock told The Associated Press last year.

OpenAI CEO warns artificial intelligence could go ‘horribly wrong’

sf-standard/related-post

sf-standard/related-posts-container

For OpenAI, which dabbled in robotics research before pivoting to a focus on the AI large language models that power ChatGPT, the partnership will &#8220;open up new possibilities for how robots can help in everyday life,” said Peter Welinder, the San Francisco company&#8217;s vice president of product and partnerships, in a written statement.

For OpenAI, which dabbled in robotics research before pivoting to a focus on the AI large language models that power ChatGPT, the partnership will "open up new possibilities for how robots can help in everyday life,” said Peter Welinder, the San Francisco company's vice president of product and partnerships, in a written statement.

For OpenAI, which dabbled in robotics research before pivoting to a focus on the AI large language models that power ChatGPT, the partnership will &#8220;open up new possibilities for how robots can help in everyday life,” said Peter Welinder, the San Francisco company&#8217;s vice president of product and partnerships, in a written statement.

The financial terms of the deal between Figure and OpenAI weren&#8217;t disclosed. The collaboration will have OpenAI building specialized AI models for Figure’s humanoid robots, likely based on OpenAI&#8217;s existing technology such as GPT language models, the image-generator DALL-E and the new video-generator Sora.

The financial terms of the deal between Figure and OpenAI weren't disclosed. The collaboration will have OpenAI building specialized AI models for Figure’s humanoid robots, likely based on OpenAI's existing technology such as GPT language models, the image-generator DALL-E and the new video-generator Sora.

The financial terms of the deal between Figure and OpenAI weren&#8217;t disclosed. The collaboration will have OpenAI building specialized AI models for Figure’s humanoid robots, likely based on OpenAI&#8217;s existing technology such as GPT language models, the image-generator DALL-E and the new video-generator Sora.

That will help “accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline” by enabling its robots to “process and reason from language,” according to Figure&#8217;s announcement. The company announced in January an agreement with BMW to put its robots to work at a car plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but hadn&#8217;t yet determined exactly how or when they would be used.

That will help “accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline” by enabling its robots to “process and reason from language,” according to Figure's announcement. The company announced in January an agreement with BMW to put its robots to work at a car plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but hadn't yet determined exactly how or when they would be used.

That will help “accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline” by enabling its robots to “process and reason from language,” according to Figure&#8217;s announcement. The company announced in January an agreement with BMW to put its robots to work at a car plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but hadn&#8217;t yet determined exactly how or when they would be used.

Robotics experts differ on the usefulness of robots shaped in human form. Most robots employed in factory and warehouse tasks might have some animal-like features—a robotic arm, finger-like grippers or even legs—but aren&#8217;t truly humanoid. That&#8217;s in part because it&#8217;s taken decades for robotics engineers to develop effective robotic legs and arms.

Robotics experts differ on the usefulness of robots shaped in human form. Most robots employed in factory and warehouse tasks might have some animal-like features—a robotic arm, finger-like grippers or even legs—but aren't truly humanoid. That's in part because it's taken decades for robotics engineers to develop effective robotic legs and arms.

Robotics experts differ on the usefulness of robots shaped in human form. Most robots employed in factory and warehouse tasks might have some animal-like features—a robotic arm, finger-like grippers or even legs—but aren&#8217;t truly humanoid. That&#8217;s in part because it&#8217;s taken decades for robotics engineers to develop effective robotic legs and arms.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted at a renewed interest in robotics in a podcast hosted by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and released early this year in which Altman said the company was starting to invest in promising robotics hardware platforms after having earlier abandoned its own research.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted at a renewed interest in robotics in a podcast hosted by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and released early this year in which Altman said the company was starting to invest in promising robotics hardware platforms after having earlier abandoned its own research.

“We started robots too early and so we had to put that project on hold,&#8221; Altman told Gates, noting that “we were dealing with bad simulators and breaking tendons&#8221; that were distracting from the company&#8217;s other work.

“We started robots too early and so we had to put that project on hold," Altman told Gates, noting that “we were dealing with bad simulators and breaking tendons" that were distracting from the company's other work.

“We started robots too early and so we had to put that project on hold,&#8221; Altman told Gates, noting that “we were dealing with bad simulators and breaking tendons&#8221; that were distracting from the company&#8217;s other work.

“We realized more and more over time that what we really first needed was intelligence and cognition and then we could figure out how we could adapt it to physicality,” he said.

“We realized more and more over time that what we really first needed was intelligence and cognition and then we could figure out how we could adapt it to physicality,” he said.

Humanoid robot-maker Figure partners with OpenAI and gets backing from Jeff Bezos

Tomoki Chien

Emily Shugerman

It didn’t take long for Suchir Balaji’s death to become a conspiracy.

It didn’t take long for Suchir Balaji’s death to become a conspiracy.

San Francisco police had only just announced the death of the 26-year-old — a software engineer who had recently made damaging claims about OpenAI, his former employer — when the speculation exploded.

San Francisco police had only just announced the death of the 26-year-old — a software engineer who had recently made damaging claims about OpenAI, his former employer — when the speculation exploded.

Something “<a href="https://x.com/AntiLeftMemes/status/1873445520687112262">nefarious</a>” happened to Balaji, observers posited on X after he was found dead Nov. 26 in his Buchanan Street apartment. He was the victim of a “<a href="https://x.com/maddass1218/status/1867766042707013677">hit</a>.” The circumstances were “<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1873447081991680375">very suspicious</a>.” He must have been assassinated, posters said, to prevent him from further harming one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.

Something “<a href="https://x.com/AntiLeftMemes/status/1873445520687112262">nefarious</a>” happened to Balaji, observers posited on X after he was found dead Nov. 26 in his Buchanan Street apartment. He was the victim of a “<a href="https://x.com/maddass1218/status/1867766042707013677">hit</a>.” The circumstances were “<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1873447081991680375">very suspicious</a>.” He must have been assassinated, posters said, to prevent him from further harming one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.

San Francisco authorities ruled the death a suicide, and police said they found “no evidence of foul play.” But in the absence of further information, the story has taken on a life of its own. A coalition of right-wing pundits, conspiracy-minded journalists, crypto enthusiasts, and now, Balaji’s parents, are filling the information vacuum, with some exploiting his death to generate millions off a crypto coin named in his memory.

San Francisco authorities ruled the death a suicide, and police said they found “no evidence of foul play.” But in the absence of further information, the story has taken on a life of its own. A coalition of right-wing pundits, conspiracy-minded journalists, crypto enthusiasts, and now, Balaji’s parents, are filling the information vacuum, with some exploiting his death to generate millions off a crypto coin named in his memory.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-family-in-shock">A family in shock</h2>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-family-in-shock">A family in shock</h2>

Like all good conspiracy theories, this one begins with solid facts: A month before his death, Balaji <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/technology/openai-copyright-law.html">told The New York Times</a> that OpenAI, his employer of four years,&nbsp;was illegally training ChatGPT on copyrighted data. He later pledged to testify in The Times’ lawsuit against OpenAI, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-whistleblower-suchir-balaji-death-283e70b31d34ebb71b62e73aafb56a7d">Associated Press reported</a>.

Like all good conspiracy theories, this one begins with solid facts: A month before his death, Balaji <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/technology/openai-copyright-law.html">told The New York Times</a> that OpenAI, his employer of four years,&nbsp;was illegally training ChatGPT on copyrighted data. He later pledged to testify in The Times’ lawsuit against OpenAI, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-whistleblower-suchir-balaji-death-283e70b31d34ebb71b62e73aafb56a7d">Associated Press reported</a>.

On Dec. 14, nearly three weeks after his death, Balaji’s mother took to X with <a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1868174889057997295">a shocking message</a>: “We are the parents of happy, smart and brave young man Suchir, found dead in his [apartment] on 11/26/2024,” Poornima Ramarao wrote. “We are seeking to know complete truth, we need more answers.”

On Dec. 14, nearly three weeks after his death, Balaji’s mother took to X with <a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1868174889057997295">a shocking message</a>: “We are the parents of happy, smart and brave young man Suchir, found dead in his [apartment] on 11/26/2024,” Poornima Ramarao wrote. “We are seeking to know complete truth, we need more answers.”

Ramarao tagged X owner Elon Musk, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Vivek Ramaswamy in the post, which was followed by a flood of others calling for a “<a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1870619453488291972">comprehensive investigation</a>” and announcing that the family had <a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1873282982150324393">hired a private investigator</a> and secured a second autopsy.&nbsp;

Ramarao tagged X owner Elon Musk, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Vivek Ramaswamy in the post, which was followed by a flood of others calling for a “<a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1870619453488291972">comprehensive investigation</a>” and announcing that the family had <a href="https://x.com/RaoPoornima/status/1873282982150324393">hired a private investigator</a> and secured a second autopsy.&nbsp;

In <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/suchir-balaji-openai-mom-death-concerns-interview-2024-12">interviews</a> with national media, Ramarao insisted her son couldn’t have been suicidal. He was a high achiever, she said, a child prodigy. Somebody with no reason to end his life.&nbsp;

In <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/suchir-balaji-openai-mom-death-concerns-interview-2024-12">interviews</a> with national media, Ramarao insisted her son couldn’t have been suicidal. He was a high achiever, she said, a child prodigy. Somebody with no reason to end his life.&nbsp;

“His time of death is few hours after his last call with family,” she wrote in her initial tweet. “We don’t understand within few hours what happened.”

“His time of death is few hours after his last call with family,” she wrote in her initial tweet. “We don’t understand within few hours what happened.”

Suchir Balaji, 26, worked for roughly four years as an artificial intelligence (Ai) researcher at OpenAI until he after he quit the company in August 2024 and became a whistleblower. Balaji accused OpenAI of using copyrighted material to train ChatGPT. On Nov. 26, 2024, Balaji was found dead in his Lower Haight apartment in San Francisco.  Officers and medics arrived on scene and located a deceased adult male from what appeared to be a suicide and SFPD said there was no evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/uos86931.jpg?w=2500" alt="Suchir Balaji sits at a white countertop with sun shining in from a window behind him." class="wp-image-351771"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Balaji accused OpenAI of using copyrighted material to train ChatGPT. A month later, he was found dead in his Lower Haight apartment.</figcaption></figure>

In an interview with The Standard, Ramarao and her husband, Balaji Ramamurthy, doubled down on these assertions, saying they believed their son was murdered at the behest of OpenAI and other artificial intelligence companies. “It’s a $100 billion industry that’d be turned upside down by his testimony,&#8221; Ramarao said. &#8220;It could be a group of people involved, a group of companies, a complete nexus.”

In an interview with The Standard, Ramarao and her husband, Balaji Ramamurthy, doubled down on these assertions, saying they believed their son was murdered at the behest of OpenAI and other artificial intelligence companies. “It’s a $100 billion industry that’d be turned upside down by his testimony," Ramarao said. "It could be a group of people involved, a group of companies, a complete nexus.”

In an interview with The Standard, Ramarao and her husband, Balaji Ramamurthy, doubled down on these assertions, saying they believed their son was murdered at the behest of OpenAI and other artificial intelligence companies. “It’s a $100 billion industry that’d be turned upside down by his testimony,&#8221; Ramarao said. &#8220;It could be a group of people involved, a group of companies, a complete nexus.”

Ramarao sees danger everywhere. She accused the city government of facilitating a cover-up. She suspected that a secondary pathologist she hired was “hand-in-glove involved” with the San Francisco medical examiner who conducted the official autopsy. She charged her own attorney, with whom she is no longer working, of “changing the narrative.” At one point, she accused a Bay Area television station of passing notes to OpenAI, then accused a Standard reporter of being “paid PR.”

Ramarao sees danger everywhere. She accused the city government of facilitating a cover-up. She suspected that a secondary pathologist she hired was “hand-in-glove involved” with the San Francisco medical examiner who conducted the official autopsy. She charged her own attorney, with whom she is no longer working, of “changing the narrative.” At one point, she accused a Bay Area television station of passing notes to OpenAI, then accused a Standard reporter of being “paid PR.”

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