OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar Says Company Could Slow AI Development for Safety
Friar's comments place safety considerations alongside the rapid development of increasingly capable AI systems. She indicated that OpenAI would be willing to adjust the pace of its frontier AI work when internal research identifies a need for additional safety measures.
OpenAI Says Safety Can Affect Development Pace
The comments were reported by Cointelegraph in a post on X, which cited Friar's position on the company's approach to frontier AI development.
Frontier AI generally refers to highly capable AI systems operating at the leading edge of current technological development. As these systems become more capable, companies developing them have increased attention on evaluation, safeguards and research into potential risks.
Friar's statement indicates that OpenAI's development process is not necessarily tied to maintaining a fixed pace regardless of safety findings. If researchers determine that additional precautions are necessary, the company is prepared to slow development, according to the comments reported by Cointelegraph.
Researchers Have a Role in Safety Decisions
The reference to researchers is significant because it places technical safety assessments within the decision-making process surrounding frontier AI development.
Rather than describing a predetermined development timetable, Friar said the company would respond to findings from its researchers. The approach leaves room for development to be slowed when safety considerations warrant it.
The statement does not specify what circumstances would trigger a slowdown, how long development could be delayed or which particular AI systems would be affected. It also does not identify a specific safety threshold or research finding that would result in such a decision.
No Specific Slowdown Announced
Friar's comments do not amount to an announcement that OpenAI is currently slowing the development of any particular frontier AI system. Instead, they describe the company's stated willingness to change its pace if researchers conclude that doing so is necessary for safety.
The statement also does not provide details about how such decisions would be implemented within OpenAI or whether a slowdown would affect research, model training, deployment or other stages of development.
For now, the specific trigger for any future slowdown remains undefined. OpenAI's position, as reported by Cointelegraph, is that safety research could lead the company to adjust the pace of frontier AI development when researchers determine that such action is necessary.
writer: Ethan Collins
Crypto Journalist
Ethan Collins reports on developments across the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. His work covers market movements, protocol updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in digital assets.
He focuses on presenting complex topics in a clear and accessible manner for a broad readership.
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