OpenAI Organizational Update December 2020

OpenAI has restructured its leadership to integrate research, product, and safety more closely following the departure of VP of Research Dario Amodei. This shift emphasizes a company-wide priority on AI safety and the alignment of nascent models like GPT-3 with human preferences.

Leadership Changes and the Departure of Dario Amodei

OpenAI VP of Research Dario Amodei is leaving the company after nearly five years. Amodei, who co-led the research direction alongside Ilya Sutskever, was a key contributor to the development of GPT-2 and GPT-3.

According to CEO Sam Altman, Amodei and several colleagues are starting a new project focused more on research than product development. OpenAI has stated its support for this move and intends to maintain a collaborative relationship with the new entity.

New Executive Role for Mira Murati

Mira Murati has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Research, Product, and Partnerships. This new role is designed to consolidate the company's focus on the integration of research, product, and safety.

Sam Altman noted that making AI safer is a company-wide priority and a central component of Mira Murati's new responsibilities. The strategic goal is to use AI models to improve existing products and create new ones to gain experience with safe deployment while continuing to publish independent research on AI challenges.

Strategic Focus on AI Safety and Alignment

OpenAI's current strategy involves a better understanding of model behavior to ensure AI is aligned with human preferences. Mira Murati stated:

"While GPT-3 and the other AI models we’ve developed are still nascent, we’re beginning to get a better understanding of their behavior, how to make them safer and how to align them with align them with human preferences."

The company maintains that its mission remains the development of general-purpose artificial intelligence that is safe, reliable, and benefits all humanity.