Altman says AI's benefits justify accepting some risk in Politico interview
OpenAI's CEO framed public access and tolerance for some harms as a difference from Anthropic, while Politico noted that their policy positions have recently moved closer.
Altman’s case for access
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in an October 4 interview with Politico’s Decoded that he sees a fundamental difference between OpenAI and Anthropic on AI regulation. Asked where he diverges from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Altman said he believes the world should accept some bad outcomes in exchange for the technology’s benefits and people’s ability to use it. Politico characterized his argument as support for broad public access despite risk. His remarks describe a policy judgment; they do not establish what harms will occur or how often.
A narrower gap than the rhetoric suggests
Politico also reported that the companies’ policy positions have moved closer. Its account says Altman agreed with Amodei’s recent call to slow development of the most advanced models, while OpenAI has backed stricter state safety requirements and a House proposal for outside safety evaluators. Those examples qualify the contrast Altman drew in the interview. He did not announce a new product, change to OpenAI’s current safeguards or withdrawal of support for those proposals. The practical difference between the companies will depend on the rules each supports and the controls they put into practice.