OpenAI, Google DeepMind employees sign open letter calling for whistle-blower protections to speak out on AI risks
- Current and former employees say broad confidentiality agreements block them from voicing their concerns outside their companies
- OpenAI has faced controversy about its approach to safeguarding AI after dissolving one of its most high-profile safety teams
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A group of current and former employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind are calling for protection from retaliation for sharing concerns about the “serious risks” of the technologies these and other companies are building.
“So long as there is no effective government oversight of these corporations, current and former employees are among the few people who can hold them accountable to the public,” according to a public letter, which was signed by 13 people who have worked at the companies, seven of whom included their names.
“Yet broad confidentiality agreements block us from voicing our concerns, except to the very companies that may be failing to address these issues.”
In recent weeks, OpenAI has faced controversy about its approach to safeguarding artificial intelligence (AI) after dissolving one of its most high-profile safety teams and being hit by a series of staff departures.
OpenAI employees have also raised concerns that staff were asked to sign non-disparagement agreements tied to their shares in the company, potentially causing them to lose out on lucrative equity deals if they speak out against the AI start-up. After some resistance, OpenAI said it would release past employees from the agreements.
Jacob Hilton, one of the former OpenAI employees who signed the letter Tuesday, wrote on X that the company deserves credit for the non-disparagement policy change, “but employees may still fear other forms of retaliation for disclosure, such as being fired and sued for damages”.
In a statement sent to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for OpenAI said the company is proud of its “track record providing the most capable and safest AI systems and believe in our scientific approach to addressing risk.”
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