Miles Brundage Leaves OpenAI for Independent AI Research

OpenAI Experiences Major Shakeup as Miles Brundage Departures

OpenAI, a leading organization in artificial intelligence development, recently announced the departure of long-time safety researcher Miles Brundage. He resigned from his position as head of the 'AGI Readiness' team on October 23, 2023, marking a significant shift in the company’s safety management. Brundage has been with OpenAI since 2018, focusing on crucial aspects of AI safety within the company's mission.

Disbandment of AGI Readiness Team

With Brundage's resignation, there are significant implications for the safety protocols at OpenAI. He disclosed in a Substack post that the 'AGI Readiness' team would be disbanded, which could lead to a lack of dedicated safety oversight as the organization navigates its development towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). AGI represents a theoretical milestone in AI, where a model exhibits capabilities comparable to human intelligence across various tasks.

Brundage's Future Plans

In light of his departure, Brundage expressed a desire to focus on independent research. He aims to start or join a nonprofit organization, directing his efforts toward AI policy research and advocacy. Brundage stated, "I plan to start a new nonprofit (and/or join an existing nonprofit) and will work on AI policy research and advocacy. I will probably do some mix of research and advocacy but the details and ratios are TBD." His intention reflects a growing trend among AI researchers who value independent efforts that may contribute to broader societal impacts.

Implications for OpenAI and AGI Safety

Brundage's departure raises pressing questions regarding the future of the AGI safety landscape within OpenAI. The company has experienced a series of high-profile exits previously, including co-founder and chief scientist Andrej Karpathy in February, and John Schulman in August, who transitioned to competitor Anthropic. Another notable departure was that of Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer, who is reportedly seeking to fund her own AI venture.

Following Brundage’s announcement, OpenAI expressed its support for his decision. A company spokesperson stated, "We fully support Miles’ decision to pursue his policy research outside industry and are deeply grateful for his contributions. His plan to go all-in on independent research on AI policy gives him the opportunity to have an impact on a wider scale, and we are excited to learn from his work and follow its impact." However, the organization did not provide clarity on the future of the AGI Readiness team.

Industry Context and Future Outlook

The transition away from centralized AGI oversight at OpenAI mirrors broader trends in the AI industry, where internal conflicts have led to significant personnel changes. With co-founded teams like 'Superalignment' being disbanded and co-founders leaving to establish rival firms, the landscape of AI policy and governance is evolving rapidly.

As the field of artificial intelligence continues to advance, the implications of such shifts in leadership and strategic direction will become increasingly relevant. Stakeholders and the public will be watching closely to see how these changes affect the company's commitment to safety and ethical AI development.

Conclusion

Miles Brundage’s departure from OpenAI not only signifies a personal shift but also represents a broader realignment in the management of AI safety. His future endeavors in nonprofit research and advocacy may influence the direction of AI policies, particularly in the wake of growing discussions surrounding AGI and its implications for society. As OpenAI transitions, the industry as a whole will adapt and respond to the evolving narratives within AI governance.