OpenAI and the Future of Ethical GPT Guidelines

Recently, you’ve probably heard OpenAI mentioned frequently on news channels and in high profile publications. The advent of the OpenAI technology, GPT 3.5 (and, more recently, GPT 4), debuted and rapidly changed the tech landscape. Many of the tech giants have since unveiled their own versions of ChatGPT and used GPT technology to debut a multitude of AI products. However, OpenAI and its co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman, spearheaded the movement. GPT technology has the potential to change the global marketplace, and life as we know it. GPT does, and will continue to, impact our lives. The rapidly-evolving technological tool works as a great assistant, and can help streamline your business and can cut down on your time spent on mindless tasks. Let’s take a look at OpenAI, the dramatic firing and rehiring of Sam Altman, and what implications the OpenAI situation brings to the future of ethical GPT guidelines. OpenAI publicly unveiled its user-friendly GPT 3.5 technology in December 2022, over 1 billion people have used ChatGPT at least once, and the tool now boasts of over 100 million weekly users . Here’s how GPT tech works: Software engineers train GPT models by feeding them copious amounts of input from across the Internet, and ChatGPT , for example, can then respond to specific prompts with thorough, curated answers. GPT language models are considered innovative because they’re constantly growing, and they customize their answers and solutions. Tech giants such as Google and Meta have scrambled to catch up and unveil their own GPT bots. Here are just two examples: In December 2023, Google unveiled Gemini as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Tech company Anthropic created Claude. Nevertheless, ChatGPT remains the original model in this tech movement. In 2015, Sam Altman co-founded the cutting-edge tech company, OpenAI, with billionaire and venture capitalist Peter Theil , Elon Musk, and others. Initially, OpenAI was a non-profit research lab that hoped to “benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return.” In 2019, OpenAI switched to a capped for-profit model, with Altman at the helm and investors like Microsoft on board. Altman’s leadership brought about the transformative ChatGPT models, and paved the way for a total shift in the modern global economy. GPT tools already have the power to transform aspects of every profession, and much of the credit for their development goes to Altman. In November 2023, the OpenAI executive board made a risky and somewhat inexplicable move and abruptly fired Sam Altman . The four-member board, which then included AI academic, Helen Toner, and Ilya Sutskever, who was OpenAI’s chief scientist, vaguely cited Altman’s lack of consistent candidness in his communications. This prompted OpenAI’s president and co-founder, Greg Brockman, to quit, and an overwhelming majority of OpenAI’s 700 employees to threaten en masse resignations. Altman and the board may have butted heads on the extremely rapid evolution of GPT technology. After Altman’s ousting, the drama that ensued didn’t last for long — he was rehired less than five days later. The original OpenAI board members were replaced (save Adam D’Angelo, the CEO of Quora), and Altman returned with the full support of Microsoft. Nevertheless, the chaos at OpenAI presents many vital questions about the murky ethics of GPT evolution, and how the tech industry may develop guidelines for its future growth. The implications of what occurred at OpenAI are important to reflect on as we attempt to incorporate GPT tools into our professional and personal lives. The future of security, cyber warfare risks, and ethical implications still stand after the dust has settled. Some of the questions that have arisen in the wake include the following: Cybersecurity risks still remain worth addressing with the future of OpenAI and GPT. In July 2023, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) posed questions to Altman and AI that sought clarity on their vision, direction, and the capabilities of ChatGPT. Many tech executives and scientists have sounded the alarm about the explosive growth of GPT and other forms of AI. In March 2023, Italy even banned the technology from use. Over privacy concerns, the US House of Representatives has restricted how congressional offices can use ChatGPT . However, currently there are no detailed federal regulations on the general public’s use of the model. Although the OpenAI board may have been erroneous in firing Altman, the CEO should continue to openly answer questions about ChatGPT and its growth. Many of the opaque qualities of the technological tool could present significant cybersecurity risks if not properly addressed. Some of those risks could include: Although the drama surrounding OpenAI seems to have reached a workable resolution, the situation may impact universal, ethical GPT guidelines in the future. For example, there may be parameters placed on how GPT collects its information and training data. If GPT technology remains guideline free, the results could be disastrous. Computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton is one voice in a sea of many who have raised concerns about the necessity of ethical guidelines and safety rails for the AI tool. Known as the “Godfather of AI” and winner of the Turing award ,  Hinton believes GPT and AI technology has the potential of enormous benefits. However, he’s concerned about its rapid growth. He believes AI bots possess more intelligence than humans, and have the ability to make decisions without engineer input. Hinton worries that AI bots can grow to contain self-awareness and become beyond the control of the scientists who created them. He warns that we need ethical GPT guidelines to contain AI growth and prevent the worst-case scenarios from occurring. Other ethical guidelines that may see future solidification include: Detractors of GPT and other AI tools warn of a doomsday robot apocalypse. Proponents call it a revolutionary way to make our collective lives better and easier. Regardless of whether you are pro or anti-GPT, the technology isn’t going anywhere, and it’s vital that we understand how it works. GPT provides helpful answers that can greatly reduce your research and work time. The tool is the unpaid intern of your office, who has the potential for mistakes, but can also be extremely helpful. However, it’s vital that you proceed with caution. Ensure that you’re not accessing GPT platforms via a public Wi-Fi network, and try to avoid using identifiable information in your prompts. Remember, this technology is a work in progress, and needs security enhancements, among other things. In a digital landscape where many bad actors lurk, waiting to attack, it’s important to use proactive security measures to protect yourself. The OpenAI drama and the future of ethical GPT guidelines prove that the ethics of AI technology are constantly evolving. Visit the What Is My IP Address homepage for free protective, online tools, and be sure to check out our blog for the latest tips and trends in cybersecurity.