Billionaire media mogul Barry Diller expressed confidence in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, despite some negative reports. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s “Future of Everything” conference, Diller defended Altman, who has faced accusations of being manipulative from some former colleagues and board members. Diller, a friend of Altman’s, was asked about trusting Altman to ensure AI benefits humanity, especially concerning artificial general intelligence (AGI), which could potentially surpass human abilities in any task.
Diller, who co-founded Fox Broadcasting and serves as chairman of IAC and Expedia Group, stated that while he trusts Altman’s sincerity, the focus should be on the unpredictable outcomes of AI. “AI goes way beyond trust,” Diller remarked, suggesting that the creators themselves are often surprised by the technology’s developments. He described AI as “the great unknown,” stressing that even the developers do not fully understand it.
Diller acknowledged the transformative power of AI, noting that these advancements are significant and inevitable, regardless of the investments involved. However, he emphasized the integrity of AI leaders, calling Altman a “decent person with good values,” while declining to identify any he considered insincere.
Diller concluded by highlighting the need for precautionary measures as we approach AGI. He warned that without establishing guardrails, an AGI might self-regulate, leading to irreversible changes.
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