Hacker News Reader

Comment by gizmodo59 | Hacker News Reader

He is a hypocrite for all we care. You work there for a while when your stock is getting vested and suddenly you have this feeling? Like the dude hired a PR firm as well.

While the safety and alignment is a real problem, I don’t get this guy or the Anthropic dude. First world problems.

View on HN

Here's a little cheat sheet for discrediting anyone who warns about AI:

* If they worked at an AI firm, say "they're a hypocrite"

* If they didn't work at an AI firm, say "they have no idea what they're talking about"

False dilemma. It's possible and also just to hold AI firms accountable while ignoring empty PR statements from those seeking to evade responsibility.

I think you mean dichotomy dude

They are both used.

Well described, those two were actually the arguments from the comment two top-level comments up and this one.

Seems like a character attack that has no bearing on the question of whether external safety intervention is necessary

Given the sums of money involved, it's hard for me to take these highly publicized heroic resignations at face value.

Don't work at a lab: dismissible for not knowing anything

Do work at a lab: dismissible for being conflicted

Used to work at a lab: dismissible for having ulterior motives

I'm feeling safer already!

Shouldn't it be just the opposite? He could make a large sum of money if he continues to work at OpenAI?

Recall that when Daniel Kokotajlo resigned, he believed he was giving up his equity under the terms of the agreement he had signed. That’s what it was worth to him to avoid signing a non-disparagement agreement. Does that count for anything?

Why did he not loose the equity eventually.

There was an uproar and OpenAI ended up essentially giving it back to him.

lose

Maybe more an indication of the amount of trust openAI and AI researchers generally have (not) earned. When one (through a hired PR agency and Time magazine article) parrots the position pushed by Sam who has been so untrustworthy the board tried to remove him, it’s worth not taking things at face value and applying a critical lens.

It's okay to recognize you were wrong even if it's late

"If you fuck up, I will still be your friend; cause we need all of us to fight all of them."

Working in safety at OpenAI or Anthropic is zeroth world problems.

The Anthropic safety whistleblower left just before his stock vested.

He already had a bulk load from his time at OpenAI.

And? He acted directly against his own financial interests to say what he said.

What are you talking about? He is very young, definitely made millions to not work for a lifetime in many places around the world and is insanely popular with his drama.

In your view he may have sacrificed more millions in the future but I very much doubt he is struggling now.

I didn't say he was struggling, I said he acted against his own financial self interest to warn about AI safety... which he did. I really doubt he figured the popularity from tweeting about quitting anthropic would benefit him more than vesting his stock, as his virality wasn't guaranteed.

Why wouldn't I think he's genuine? What self interested incentive does he have that is stronger than just staying and vesting stocks?

Hey now, he probably donated a good chunk to charity

(donor advised fund where he retains complete control, after a 60% tax deduction)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com