OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced on Tuesday the formation of a safety and security committee to address growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence technology. The committee will conduct a thorough evaluation of OpenAI's processes and safeguards, a process expected to take 90 days. Following this evaluation, the committee will present recommendations to the company's board regarding critical safety and security decisions concerning OpenAI projects and operations. The establishment of the committee comes after the resignation of co-founder Ilya Sutskever and executive Jan Leike, two prominent leaders at OpenAI who had been focused on ensuring the safe integration of AI technology. Their departures raised concerns about the company's priorities. Notably, Sutskever and Leike headed the superalignment team, which aimed to develop systems to mitigate long-term risks associated with AI. Leike expressed concerns that OpenAI's focus on safety had been overshadowed by a focus on developing flashy products. The safety and security committee is led by board chair Bret Taylor, directors Adam D'Angelo and Nicole Seligman, and Chief Executive Sam Altman. Additionally, several technical and policy leaders from OpenAI are part of the committee. The company also plans to seek input from other experts in the fields of safety, security, and technology. OpenAI's decision to form the committee coincides with its work on training its "next frontier model" for artificial intelligence.

The company emphasizes its commitment to robust debates surrounding AI and acknowledges the controversies surrounding its use. Concerns have been raised in various sectors, including the entertainment industry, where AI's impact on intellectual property and job displacement has been a topic of discussion. OpenAI recently faced criticism from actor Scarlett Johansson regarding a ChatGPT voice feature that resembled her voice without her consent. Although OpenAI clarified that the voice in question belonged to another actor, they paused the voice option in response to Johansson's concerns. OpenAI states that the formation of the safety committee is unrelated to this particular issue. OpenAI is renowned for its ChatGPT and Sora, a text-to-video tool that holds significant potential for filmmakers and studios. The company, backed by Microsoft, grapples not only with safety concerns but also with increasing competition from other companies with their own AI tools and funding. Anthropic, based in San Francisco and supported by Amazon and Google, has received substantial funding, while xAI, led by Elon Musk, recently announced a $6-billion funding round to advance research and development efforts. As the entertainment industry navigates the long-term effects of AI on creativity and employment, discussions between tech companies like OpenAI and Hollywood have become crucial. Filmmakers have expressed both enthusiasm for AI's possibilities and concerns about potential job losses in areas such as makeup, production, and animation.