Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, countered concerns that the organization responsible for developing ChatGPT could abandon its European operations in light of the European Union’s stringent new regulations on artificial intelligence. This follows a public rebuke by a high-ranking official in response to Altman’s remarks suggesting such an outcome.
Altman, currently on a global tour meeting international officials and advocating for his AI firm, which has sparked worldwide excitement, had hinted during a London visit this week that OpenAI may consider withdrawal if the EU’s proposed AI legislation proves excessively rigid. This comment incited a sharp retort from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who accused the firm of attempting blackmail.
Breton, responsible for digital policy, referenced a Financial Times article in which Altman is quoted as saying that OpenAI “will attempt to abide by the rules, but if compliance isn’t possible, we will cease operations.”
A day after this incident, Altman attempted to quell the controversy, tweeting: “An exceptionally productive week of discussions in Europe on optimal AI regulation! We’re enthusiastic about continuing operations here and, naturally, have no intentions of departing.”
The European Union is leading the charge in establishing regulatory parameters for artificial intelligence, with its AI Act nearing finalization following years of effort. The sudden emergence of versatile AI chatbots like ChatGPT caught EU officials by surprise, compelling them to add clauses about so-called generative AI systems, which generate convincingly human-like responses to user queries.
Breton rebuked any suggestion of blackmail, stating that by developing a transparent framework, Europe isn’t hindering the development of generative AI. He added that the EU is poised to “support companies in readying” for the AI Act.
Altman’s European journey includes Warsaw, Munich, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, and London stops. Brussels, the EU’s hub, has yet to be listed.
Altman’s meetings have included engagements with world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has also been touring Europe this week, engaging in AI-related discussions with officials, including Scholz, European commissioners like Breton, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and the EU legislators leading the Parliament’s work on AI rules.
Google has launched its conversational chatbot, Bard, as a contender to ChatGPT.
Several other tech industry leaders have joined the conversation this week on the necessity and approach to AI regulation, including Microsoft President Brad Smith, who proposed a blueprint for public AI governance on Thursday.
Microsoft has poured billions into OpenAI and has incorporated ChatGPT-like capabilities into its products, such as a chatbot for its Bing search engine.
Altman recently advised US congressional lawmakers that AI should be managed by a national or global entity, given the increasing need for governmental intervention to mitigate the risks posed by more potent AI systems.
Altman, who was surrounded by students at a “fireside chat” at University College London on Wednesday, expressed that the “ideal solution” to AI regulation lies “somewhere between the conventional European, UK, and US approaches.”
Altman emphasized the need for measured regulation, stating, “You truly don’t want to over-regulate this before understanding the direction the technology is headed.” He suggested that there’s room to develop a “global set of standards and enforcement” and shared that AI regulation has been a “consistent theme” on his worldwide tour, including visits to Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, and Lagos, Nigeria.
In this era of rapid technological development, the role of AI has become a topic of global significance. The conversations and debates surrounding its regulation are critical as the world navigates this relatively uncharted territory. As AI powerhouses like OpenAI and Google continue to revolutionize the industry, the harmonization of AI regulations across the globe will be a determining factor in ensuring the safe and beneficial application of this transformative technology. Only time will tell how these discussions will shape the future of AI and its role in our society.
