OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has vowed to donate more than half of his wealth to the Giving Pledge, joining a cohort of affluent philanthropists committed to charitable giving.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Pledges to Donate Most of His Wealth

This decision follows a turbulent period for Sam Altman, who co-founded the company known for its ChatGPT chatbot and amassed a significant fortune through investments. 

Last November, his removal and subsequent reinstatement as CEO sent shockwaves through the rapidly evolving AI industry, highlighting internal conflicts within the organization.

Altman's company also underwent major commercialization. It was originally established as a nonprofit research lab dedicated to the safe development of AI for societal benefit. 

Despite these changes, Altman claims to be steadfast in his commitment to philanthropy, particularly in technology-related areas that can enhance human prosperity.

In their Giving Pledge letter released on Tuesday, Altman, along with his husband and fellow technology investor Oliver Mulherin, expressed gratitude to those who contributed to societal progress. They emphasized their desire to contribute to society's betterment and "pay it forward" by supporting initiatives that uplift communities.

The Giving Pledge was founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett in 2010 to encourage the world's wealthiest individuals to allocate most of their wealth to charitable causes. With over 240 signatories from 30 countries, the initiative seeks to address pressing global issues through philanthropy.

"We intend to focus our giving on supporting technology that helps create abundance for people, so that they can then build the scaffolding even higher," Altman and Mulherin wrote in the letter.

Read Also: ChatGPT Answers to Computer Programming Questions More Than 50% Inaccurate, Study Shows 

OpenAI Reveals New Safety and Security and Committee

In a separate development, OpenAI has announced the establishment of a Safety and Security Committee following recent executive departures.

The committee, led by Sam Altman, comprises several prominent directors and experts tasked with overseeing the company's safety practices and addressing risks associated with its AI models.

The formation of this committee coincides with OpenAI's preparations to train its next flagship AI model, intended to succeed its GPT-4 technology.

The committee members are directors Bret Taylor, Adam D'Angelo, and Nicole Seligman, as well as technical and policy experts Aleksander Madry, Lilian Weng, and John Schulman. Newly appointed Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki and head of security Matt Knight will also join the team.

Over the next 90 days, the committee will evaluate and enhance OpenAI's existing safety protocols before presenting its recommendations to the board for public disclosure.

These developments come amid significant leadership changes within OpenAI, including the departure of key executives and the dissolution of the Superalignment team tasked with ensuring AI models align with the company's intended goals. 

John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, will now lead the company's long-term safety research under the oversight of the Safety and Security Committee.

Related Article: EU Data Protection Task Force Examines OpenAI's ChatGPT Privacy Compliance, Reveals Preliminary Findings