Several senators are now pressing OpenAI, an artificial intelligence startup, over their safety and employment practices following a whistleblower complaint accusing the firm of preventing its staff from warning regulators about the risks of AI technology.
In a Monday letter to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a group of senators probed the startup over its public commitments to safety. The senators also asked Altman about his company's treatment of current and former employees who voice concerns about the risk of AI technology.
"We seek additional information from OpenAI about the steps that the company is taking to meet its public commitments on safety, how the company is internally evaluating its progress on those commitments, and on the company's identification and mitigation of cybersecurity threats," the letter read.
"Given OpenAI's position as a leading AI company, it is important that the public can trust in the safety and security of its systems. This includes the integrity of the company's governance structure and safety testing, its employment practices, its fidelity to its public promises and mission, and its cybersecurity policies," the letter read further.
The letter's signatories included Sens. Brian Schatz, D-HI; Peter Welch, D-VT; Angus S. King, Jr., I-ME; Ben Ray Lujan, D-NM; and Mark R. Warner, D-VA.
What's the Whistleblower Complaint Against OpenAI?
OpenAI, the startup behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, came under fire after a whistleblower complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and obtained by The Washington Post accused the company of issuing overly restrictive employment, severance, and nondisclosure agreements to its workers.
Under the agreements, OpenAI staffers were required to get prior consent from the company if they wished to disclose any information to federal authorities. Failure to do so would have led to penalties against workers who raised concerns to regulators.
Furthermore, employees were allegedly made to sign agreements that required them to waive their federal rights to whistleblower compensation.
Following The Post's report, OpenAI issued a statement where it noted that it already removed its "nondisparagement terms," which could penalize departing employees if they criticize the company after leaving, per AP News.
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