OpenAI has expanded its leadership team by welcoming Paul M. Nakasone, a retired US Army general and former director of the National Security Agency, as its latest board member.
The organization highlighted Nakasoneโs role on its blog, stating, โMr. Nakasoneโs insights will also contribute to OpenAIโs efforts to better understand how AI can be used to strengthen cybersecurity by quickly detecting and responding to cybersecurity threats.โ
The inclusion of Nakasone on OpenAIโs board is a decision that warrants a critical examination and will likely raise eyebrows. Nakasoneโs extensive background in cybersecurity, including his leadership roles in the US Cyber Command and the Central Security Service, undoubtedly brings a wealth of experience and expertise to OpenAI. However, his association with the NSA, an agency often scrutinized for its surveillance practices and controversial data collection methods, raises important questions about the implications of such an appointment as the companyโs product ChatGPT is, through a deal with Apple, about to be available on every iPhone. The company is also already tightly integrated into Microsoft software.
Firstly, while Nakasoneโs cybersecurity acumen is an asset, it also introduces potential concerns about privacy and the ethical use of AI. The NSAโs history of mass surveillance, highlighted by the revelations of Edward Snowden, has left a lasting impression on the publicโs perception of government involvement in data security and privacy.
By aligning itself with a figure so closely associated with the NSA, OpenAI might raise concerns about a shift towards a more surveillance-oriented approach to cybersecurity, which could be at odds with the broader tech communityโs push for greater transparency and ethical standards in AI development.
Secondly, Nakasoneโs appointment could raise doubts about the direction of OpenAIโs policies and practices, particularly those related to cybersecurity and data handling.
Nakasoneโs role on the newly established Safety and Security Committee, which will conduct a 90-day review of OpenAIโs processes and safeguards, places him in a position of significant influence. This committeeโs recommendations will likely shape OpenAIโs future policies, potentially steering the company towards practices that reflect Nakasoneโs NSA-influenced perspective on cybersecurity.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has become a controversial figure in the tech industry, not least due to his involvement in the development and promotion of eyeball-scanning digital ID technology. This technology, primarily associated with Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project co-founded by Altman, has sparked significant debate and criticism for several reasons.
The core concept of eyeball scanning technology is inherently invasive. Worldcoinโs approach involves using a device called the Orb to scan individualsโ irises to create a unique digital identifier.