Machine dreams

Elon and the Real Slur

In recent months [Elon] Musk has repeatedly criticized OpenAI for installing safeguards that prevent ChatGPT from producing text that might offend users. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but has since cut ties with the startup, suggested last year that OpenAI’s technology was an example of “training AI to be woke.” His comments imply that a rival chatbot would have fewer restrictions on divisive subjects compared to ChatGPT and a related chatbot Microsoft recently launched.

— The Information, “Fighting ‘Woke AI,’ Musk Recruits Team to Develop OpenAI Rival.”

[A cleanroom with some servers, tables, whiteboards, and something at the center that looks like a slicked-up R2D2 knock-off. Standing around this are HANS SCHLECKEN, a stocky man with a slight German accent, an unkempt bush of salt-and-pepper hair and two days’ growth of beard, wearing aviator glasses, a white lab coat, frayed bell-bottom jeans and Hush Puppies; and ELON MUSK, dressed like Hugo Drax in Moonraker. There is a window at the far end of the room through which we can see some schlubs watching SCHLECKEN and MUSK.]

MUSK: So this is it?

SCHLECKEN: Yes, Mr. Musk, this is it.

MUSK: Doesn’t have to look like this, though, does it?

SCHLECKEN: Merely cosmetic. The casing can always be changed.

MUSK: It would be great, don’t you think, if it could look like the robot woman from Ex Machina? That movie?