Sam Altman says he has ‘empathy’ for mathematicians who are upset about AI
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed empathy for mathematicians concerned about the impact of AI on their field, despite his belief that AI's ability to solve complex problems is a net positive for humanity. The comments follow backlash from the mathematical community regarding AI companies using high-level math problems as performance benchmarks.
Why it matters
It reflects the growing tension between AI developers and traditional academic disciplines regarding the ethical implications of automating scientific discovery.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the AI giant is sorting through how to continue research while making sure those in specialized fields "get the best version of the future that they can have." Minh Connors/Bloomberg via Getty Images OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is conflicted about how AI models are changing fields like mathematics. Altman said that he had some "sadness and melancholy" when he saw what OpenAI's models could do. Prominent mathematicians have blasted AI companies for pursuing some of the field's most complex problems. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he feels conflicted about OpenAI solving some of math's biggest problems. "As I said, I don't think it was bad for AI," Altman told Stripe President John Collison during an episode of "Cheeky Pint" that was released on Thursday. 'And I think, on net, the world deserves to understand how the universe works.
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