Elon Musk claims Microsoft controls ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Satya Nadella disagrees

In a recent interview with CNBC, entrepreneur Elon Musk voiced his dissatisfaction with the direction taken by OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and raised concerns about Microsoft’s alleged control over the company. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella promptly dismissed Musk’s claims as “factually incorrect.”

Musk, known for his involvement with companies such as Tesla and Twitter, asserted that OpenAI owed its existence to him. Although initially established as a non-profit organization in 2015, OpenAI later formed a “capped-profit” entity called OpenAI LP. Musk had invested approximately $50 million in the company during its founding year and played a pivotal role in the hiring process. He even claimed to have suggested the name “OpenAI.”

Expressing his apprehension, Musk questioned the relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft, implying that the tech giant exerted greater control over the AI research company. He raised concerns that as part of Microsoft’s investment, they possessed rights to all software, model weights, and other aspects of OpenAI. Musk said, “What exactly is the relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft? I worry that Microsoft made it more in control.”

Responding to Musk’s comments, Satya Nadella refuted the claims, stating they were factually incorrect. Nadella emphasized that OpenAI remained grounded in its mission of being controlled by a non-profit board. He expressed his respect for Musk but maintained that Microsoft only held a non-controlling interest in OpenAI, emphasizing their commercial partnership.

Nadella pointed out the collaboration between OpenAI and a “capped profit” company in pursuit of the powerful technology behind OpenAI LM. He acknowledged that Microsoft was the sole for-profit company comfortable working with a non-profit firm on such a large scale.

Despite Microsoft CEO discarding Musk’s claim, what Musk said might not be entirely wrong. Microsoft has integrated ChatGPT’s underlying technology into various platforms, including Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Office. Through their agreement, Microsoft can utilize ChatGPT’s base GPT language model technology and even tailor it for specific customers. Also, recent reports suggest that Microsoft has been developing a newer ChatGPT version to address privacy concerns.

Musk’s reservations regarding ChatGPT and similar AI technologies are not new. He previously joined forces with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in signing an open letter in March, calling for a pause in advanced AI development.

Contrary to that, during the interview, Musk expressed his desire to create a competitor to ChatGPT, named “TruthGPT,” to avoid AI bias. He envisions it as an AI that relentlessly seeks the truth and strives to comprehend the mysteries of the universe.

While the debate between Musk and Nadella continues, it is evident that their differing perspectives reflect the growing concerns surrounding the control, influence, and responsible development of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. As the industry moves forward, striking a balance between profit-driven innovation and ethical safeguards will be crucial in shaping the future of AI.

Via: Business Today