TLDR
- The enlistment of retired U.S. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, an erstwhile director of the NSA, onto OpenAI’s board and its nascent Safety and Security Committee has become public.
- Edward Snowden, known for his whistleblower status post his NSA tenure, has vocally decried this move, advising against confidence in OpenAI or its prominent tool, ChatGPT.
- Snowden labeled the addition of Nakasone as a preconceived and intentional affront to the liberties of every individual worldwide, cautioning the public on the risks tied to having an ex-NSA leader within OpenAI’s governance.
- Nakasone, who stepped down from his NSA duties in early 2023, also held the record for the longest leadership term at the U.S. Cyber Command and was head of the Central Security Service.
- This appointment unfolds as OpenAI seeks to enhance its executive team and forge new partnerships, one being with Apple to mesh ChatGPT with Siri, alongside onboarding high-ranking officials.
OpenAI, the brains behind the exceedingly well-received ChatGPT, recently introduced the retired military leader, General Paul Nakasone, , formerly the head of the National Security Agency (NSA), into its executive board.
Edward Snowden, once a subcontractor for the NSA turned advocate for transparency, has been a critic of this recruitment, urging a wary outlook on OpenAI and its innovations.
In a communication spree on X (previously Twitter), Snowden dubbed the recruitment a 'deliberate assault on global rights'. He implored vigilance concerning OpenAI’s solutions, stating, 'Never put your trust in @OpenAI or its platforms (like ChatGPT). The sole justification for appointing an ex-@NSAGov director to your board is concerning.'
They're gone full mask-off: ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? trust @OpenAI or its innovations. The recruitment of a former @NSAGov NSA director has been characterized as a deliberate affront to global rights. Consider this a forewarning. https://t.co/bzHcOYvtko
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 14, 2024
Having retired from NSA affairs in February 2023, Nakasone formerly held the longest incumbency as head of the U.S. Cyber Command and acted as chief of the Central Security Service.
His addition to OpenAI’s committee aims to bolster the company’s strategy in swiftly addressing cybersecurity threats, according to their assertions.
However, Snowden’s reservations draw from his history of revealing the NSA’s mass surveillance of private data back in 2013, making him a divisive character, hailed by some for transparency efforts, while others condemn him for endangering security.
Snowden’s intense response to Nakasone’s role reiterates the unending discussion on balancing privacy, safety, and the surge of sophisticated AI systems.
Since rolling out ChatGPT towards the end of 2022, OpenAI has been in a phase of rapid expansion, keen on strengthening its executive body and alliances to remain at the forefront of the evolving AI sector.
OpenAI recently announced a collaboration with Apple to effortlessly merge ChatGPT with Apple’s virtual assistant Siri and incorporated two elite professionals: Sarah Friar for CFO and Kevin Weil as CPO.
