Recently, Edward Snowden took to social media to caution his 6 million followers against trusting the company @OpenAI. This alert came after U.S. Army general Paul Nakasone retired from the board.
In 2013, Snowden, a subcontractor of the National Security Agency, was accused of espionage by the Justice Department for releasing thousands of classified records that exposed the agency’s surveillance practices.
Snowden’s actions have polarized opinions, with some heralding him as a brave whistle-blower while others brand him a traitor. Since his leak, he has resided in Russia, and in 2022, he was granted Russian citizenship.
Snowden shared a blog post detailing OpenAI’s new member in a recent Friday morning post. Nakasone, a retired NSA Director and former U.S. Cyber Command chief, joined the board after concluding his NSA tenure in February, a role he held since 2018.
Nakasone is set to focus on the Board Safety and Security Committee as his primary task. OpenAI’s popular AI product, ChatGPT, recently announced a collaboration with Apple to enhance user experiences across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Three individuals, including Brett Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo, currently constitute the OpenAI Board. Nakasone’s strategic role involves leveraging AI to enhance cybersecurity by swiftly identifying and addressing threats.
In a statement, Nakasone expressed alignment with OpenAI’s mission and his enthusiasm for contributing to the organization’s endeavors. Snowden reacted by cautioning against placing trust in OpenAI and its products, suggesting that Nakasone’s appointment raises concerns about privacy and freedom.
“They’ve gone full mask-off: do not ever trust @OpenAI or its products. The only reason to hire an @NSAGov Director on your board. This is a calculated, willful betrayal against the rights and freedoms of everyone on Earth. You have been warned. https://t.co/bzHcOYvtko
Snowden’s post garnered significant engagement, with nearly two million views and thousands of reactions and comments by Friday. It’s clear that his message has resonated.