OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparks debate on ‘whether elected government or unelected private companies’ should have more power

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrapped up a lively AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on X (formerly Twitter) with a summary post highlighting three major insights from the discussion surrounding his company’s recent partnership with the US Department of War (DoW). The post highlights ongoing tensions in the AI community about power dynamics between governments and private tech firms, nationalisation risks, and the underappreciated efforts in maintaining national security.

Altman’s online discussion was initiated to address questions about OpenAI’s agreement to deploy its AI models on the DoW’s classified networks, a deal that includes safeguards against domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. The session, however, drew thousands of engagements, blending support, criticism, and probing inquiries.