Recently, OpenAI made a controversial decision that resulted in backlash from both former and current employees. The company required former employees to choose between signing a non-disparagement agreement that would never expire or keeping their vested equity in the company. This move raised concerns among individuals associated with OpenAI.
The internal memo addressing this issue was viewed by CNBC. The memo informed former employees that the non-disparagement agreement was not compulsory for retaining their vested units of equity. OpenAI clarified in the memo that they will not enforce any non-disparagement or non-solicitation contract items that employees may have signed previously.
Policy Changes
OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged the mistake in their decision and stated that they are making important updates to their departure process. They assured that vested equity will not be taken away, even if the departure documents were not signed. The company also mentioned that they will remove non-disparagement clauses from their standard departure paperwork and release former employees from existing obligations, unless the provision was mutual.
Controversies Surrounding OpenAI
Amidst this issue, OpenAI faced mounting controversies. Recently, the company faced backlash for releasing a range of audio voices for ChatGPT, including a voice named “Sky” which resembled Scarlett Johansson’s voice in the movie “Her.” Additionally, OpenAI disbanded its team focused on long-term risks of artificial intelligence, with team leaders Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike announcing their departures.
The Superalignment team at OpenAI, formed last year, aimed at steering and controlling AI systems smarter than humans through scientific and technical breakthroughs. However, OpenAI decided to reassign team members to other teams within the company, indicating a shift in priorities. This move came after criticisms of the company’s safety culture and processes being neglected in favor of product development.
OpenAI’s decision to backtrack on the non-disparagement agreement reflects a necessary step towards addressing employee concerns and rebuilding trust within the organization. The controversies surrounding the company serve as a reminder of the importance of ethical considerations and transparency in the development of artificial intelligence technologies. It remains to be seen how OpenAI will navigate these challenges and uphold its commitment to responsible AI innovation in the future.
Leave a Reply