Renowned whistleblower Edward Snowden has issued a warning to the public regarding their trust in OpenAI and its products. Snowden took to his X social media account, formerly known as , to express his concerns about the recent developments at the company. His comments were in response to the appointment of retired general and former head of the National Security Agency (NSA), Paul Nakasone, to OpenAI’s board of directors.
Nakasone, who served as the head of the NSA from 2018 to 2023, has been tasked with improving AI’s role in cybersecurity by detecting and responding to threats swiftly. However, Snowden, quoting a tweet from @MarioNawfal, criticized the appointment and cautioned his followers against placing any trust in OpenAI or its products. He accused the company of betraying the rights of every individual on Earth and warned of the potential consequences.
Tech mogul Elon Musk, founder of the xAI startup, also expressed his sarcastic and scathing opinion on the news. Musk, who opposes the direction taken by OpenAI under Sam Altman’s leadership, voiced concerns about the company’s collaboration with Apple. He alleged that OpenAI’s access to user data through ChatGPT integration into Apple devices could lead to unsolicited use of personal information.
Meanwhile, actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her role in the movie Her, spoke out against OpenAI’s latest move. Johansson revealed that the company had previously approached her for a partnership, which she declined months before the AI personal assistant voice choices were revealed. Fans noticed similarities between OpenAI’s latest chat assistant and Johansson’s character in Her, sparking speculation and jokes online.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman further fueled the conversation by posting the word “Her” on X, formerly known as .. The company’s decision to appoint Nakasone and the subsequent reactions from Snowden, Musk, and Johansson have raised concerns about OpenAI’s safety culture and the potential implications for user privacy.