OpenAI faces more leadership shake-ups with the departure of co-founder John Schulman to Anthropic. John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has departed the company to join rival AI startup Anthropic. Schulman’s move stems from a desire to focus more on AI alignment, the science of ensuring AI systems behave as intended, and to engage in more hands-on technical work. In a statement on X, Schulman expressed his belief that working at Anthropic would offer new perspectives and opportunities to advance his research interests. Schulman played a critical role in the development of OpenAI’s technologies, including leading the reinforcement training team that fine-tuned AI models like ChatGPT. His departure leaves only three of OpenAI’s original 11 founders still with the company.
In related news, OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman has announced an extended leave from the company. After nine years of continuous work since co-founding OpenAI, Brockman plans to take a sabbatical through the end of the year to relax and recharge. OpenAI faces more leadership shake-ups following the recent exit of product manager Peter Deng. His decision comes at a time of significant transition for the company, which also saw the recent exit of product manager Peter Deng, who joined OpenAI last year.
OpenAI expressed gratitude for Schulman’s contributions, highlighting his efforts in advancing AI alignment research. Despite leaving the company, Schulman conveyed confidence in OpenAI’s future, stating that the teams he worked with would continue to thrive. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also praised Schulman for his brilliance and dedication, noting that he would be missed.
Google Found to Have Illegally Maintained Monopoly in Online Search
As OpenAI faces more leadership shake-ups, in related news, President Greg Brockman has announced an extended sabbatical. In a landmark antitrust case, Google has been found guilty of illegally maintaining its monopoly in online search and advertising markets. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, concluded that Google had abused its market dominance by securing exclusive agreements with major device manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung. These agreements ensured that Google’s search engine remained the default option on billions of devices, effectively stifling competition.
The court’s decision highlights Google’s strategic use of billion-dollar deals to maintain its dominance. The ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech’s influence and raises questions about the future of digital competition and regulation.
During the trial, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified about the potential risks of Google’s dominance in the search market, particularly concerning the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The court’s decision could lead to substantial penalties for Google, with future hearings set to determine whether fines or structural changes, such as breaking up parts of Google’s business, will be imposed.
X Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against GARM and WFA; GARM to Shut Down
In related news, X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). The lawsuit accuses these organizations of orchestrating a “systematic illegal boycott” of X by advertisers concerned about their brands appearing next to harmful content.
Following the lawsuit, the WFA announced that it would discontinue GARM’s operations. The decision to shut down GARM, which was founded to address the challenge of illegal or harmful content on digital platforms, was described as difficult but necessary due to the strain the lawsuit had placed on the group’s resources.
The lawsuit filed by X alleges that GARM’s members colluded to boycott the platform by drastically reducing their advertising spending. This group boycott, according to the lawsuit, violated antitrust laws. GARM defended its activities, stating that it had provided tools to enhance transparency in ad placements and had aimed to protect brands from being associated with illegal or harmful content.
Also Read: Musk Claims OpenAI Violated the Original Partnership Deal, Sparking Legal Showdown.
