OpenAI won't go public this year amid AI safety concerns
What's the story
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has ruled out the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) this year. In an interview with Fortune, Altman said that this year would be an "ill-advised moment" for such a move. He emphasized that the company is currently focused on addressing safety-related concerns around artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Safety 1st
'Unacceptable to take risk of killing everybody'
Altman stressed the importance of safety in AI development, saying, "I think it is unacceptable to be taking like a 10% chance of killing everybody by the end of the decade."
He said we are entering a new era, and we may have to act differently to ensure that this technology benefits all humanity without posing any risk.
Collective responsibility
Need for collective action on AI safety
Altman also stressed the need for collective action on AI safety.
He said, "I think a key principle that we should all agree on is that we cannot take actions that would risk losing control of the future to AI."
His comments come amid growing concerns over the potential risks posed by advanced AI systems.
Shared concerns
AI leaders' consensus on risks and safety
Altman's comments echo those of other AI leaders, including Anthropic PBC CEO Dario Amodei and xAI Corp. co-founder, chief Elon Musk.
They all agree on the need to slow down AI development due to escalating risks from the technology for humanity.
The consensus among these competitors highlights the growing concern over safety in this rapidly evolving field.
Information
OpenAI, Anthropic's plans for IPOs
OpenAI confidentially filed for an IPO in June. However, the company has said that the timing of the listing is still undecided. Meanwhile, Anthropic is preparing for its own listing, which could surpass SpaceX's record-setting IPO worth $86.2 billion with an over-allotment option included.