OpenAI, the prominent artificial intelligence research institution, has recently made the notable move of appointing retired General Paul Nakasone, former head of the National Security Agency (NSA), to its board of directors. This move follows intense criticism of OpenAI for its handling of AI safety concerns, which resulted in the disbanding of its superalignment team and an outflow of safety experts. To address these concerns, OpenAI established the Safety and Security Committee which is expected to benefit immensely from Nakasone’s extensive expertise in cybersecurity and counter-cybercrime measures.
Bret Taylor, Chairman of OpenAI’s Board, has stated that Nakasone’s unparalleled experience will help to securely develop and deploy AI, thereby guiding OpenAI towards its mission of using artificial general intelligence for the benefit of all humanity. However, Nakasone’s appointment has not come without objections, and his tactics for intelligence gathering has drawn attention, specifically related to concerns for individual privacy rights.
During his time as the NSA director, Nakasone endorsed Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a move that received its fair share of criticism. This section outlines the criteria for collecting intelligence on non-US individuals whilst safeguarding the privacy of US citizens, although privacy advocates argue that it often results in incidental data collection of US citizens without a warrant.
In 2023, Nakasone issued guidance to NSA’s signals intelligence or SIGINT division, detailing ways to spy on individuals whilst treating them with “dignity and respect”. The directive’s publication sparked backlash, with digital rights advocacy group, Fight for the Future arguing that mass surveillance fundamentally conflicts with human rights and democracy.
OpenAI’s engagement with Nakasone brings considerable cybersecurity experience that can assist with protecting the organization’s assets from incursions. However, there are concerns about the potential impact of this appointment on users of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, particularly in instances where Nakasone’s former NSA associates could request favours. Nonetheless, Nakasone’s inclusion on the board offers an extensive wealth of knowledge in cybersecurity that could be instrumental in fortifying OpenAI against cyber threats and helping to propel its AI safety initiatives.
