OpenAI exec claims Elon Musk called him donkey during AGI safety argument, here is why

In the ongoing legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, new details have emerged about a heated exchange during OpenAI's formative years. Joshua Achiam, OpenAI's chief futurist, testified that Musk called him a 'jackass' during a February 2018 all-hands meeting focused on AI safety and the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI). The meeting was attended by approximately 50 to 60 employees and took place shortly before Musk departed the company he co-founded with Altman.

At the meeting, Musk expressed concerns that Tesla would soon compete with OpenAI for top AI talent, potentially creating conflicts of interest. Achiam noted that Musk appeared uncertain about OpenAI's direction and was eager to pursue AGI development independently. Musk reportedly wanted to accelerate AGI progress out of fear that another company might develop it first and misuse the technology.

Achiam described Musk's approach as a 'reckless' race toward AGI, emphasizing the safety risks involved. He questioned whether the rapid advancement toward a superintelligent AI capable of surpassing human intelligence overnight was a realistic scenario or science fiction. This disagreement led to a tense confrontation, during which Musk called Achiam a 'jackass.'

Following the incident, some colleagues expressed support for Achiam's stance on safety. At a later company meeting, Achiam was even presented with a trophy depicting a 'jackass' and the message 'Never stop being a jackass for safety.' This episode reflects early internal conflicts at OpenAI regarding the balance between innovation speed and safety precautions.

The testimony sheds light on the challenges OpenAI faced in aligning its leadership on the responsible development of AGI, a topic that remains critical as AI technologies continue to advance rapidly.

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