The recent drama at OpenAI, where CEO Sam Altman was briefly dismissed by the board of directors only to be rapidly reinstated, has sparked discussion about the company prioritizing profits over its original nonprofit mission.
In fact, no company is purely profit-driven, nor should they be. While profits are paramount to survival in the competitive marketplace, they should always be pursued with a degree of social responsibility. What that means will of course vary from person to person and context to context. Still, profits act like a guardrail that prevents managers of organizations from over-indulging their passions. OpenAI’s strict reversal in recent weeks is a clear-cut example of this.
The embrace of capitalism and the pursuit of profits is not just a pragmatic choice to satisfy investors. It will make OpenAI better at achieving its mission of safe and responsible AI, by curtailing the worst excesses of those with power within the company. In a world where artificial intelligence may hold the key to our future, profit isn’t just good, it’s essential for ensuring progress stays on track and remains ethical.
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