Whistleblower Edward Snowden warns against trusting OpenAI after NSA veteran joins board
Edward Snowden has warned people about OpenAI's latest news
Edward Snowden, the infamous whistleblower, has issued a stark warning against trusting OpenAI and its products following a significant update within the community.
Snowden, who is known for his revelations about global surveillance programmes, took to his X social media account, previously known as Twitter, to share his thoughts on the latest developments at OpenAI.
The 40-year-old was responding to news that Sam Altman's company had appointed retired US Army general and former head of the NSA - where Snowden himself once worked - Paul Nakasone to its board of directors.
Nakasone served as the head of the National Security Agency from 2018 to 2023. Quoting a tweet from @MarioNawfal, Snowden stated that Nakasone would "help improve AI's role in cybersecurity by detecting and responding to threats quickly."
This announcement comes amid growing concerns about safety culture within the AI firm.
Snowden continued, accusing OpenAI of having "gone full mask-off" and warned his followers not to "ever trust OpenAI or its products", which include ChatGPT, under any circumstances.
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According to U Today, Snowden suggested there was only one real reason for Nakasone's appointment. He declared: "This is a wilful, calculated betrayal of the rights of every person on Earth. You have been warned."
Tech titan Elon Musk has thrown shade at OpenAI, co-founded by Sam Altman, criticising its "woke" direction and the potential privacy issues it could pose. He sarcastically tweeted: "Can't wait for OpenAI to have access to my phone."
Musk also raised alarms earlier in the week about OpenAI's alleged tie-up with Apple, suggesting that ChatGPT might be integrated into Apple devices. He warned that if this were true, he'd ban all Apple products from his companies over concerns that OpenAI would snoop on user data.
In a twist, Scarlett Johansson's distinctive voice seems to have inspired OpenAI's new chatbot, reminiscent of her role in the film 'Her'. The Hollywood star has now spoken out, revealing that she turned down a collaboration with the company behind ChatGPT long before they unveiled their AI assistant's voice options.
As soon as the voices were heard around the globe, fans were quick to draw parallels with Scarlett Johansson's AI character in the 2013 movie 'Her', which evolves into the protagonist's love interest. The internet buzzed with speculation and humour, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman added to the intrigue by simply tweeting "Her" on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.