Microsoft's Mustafa Suleyman says he loves Sam Altman, believes he's sincere about AI safety | TechCrunch

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the relationship between Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, as well as Suleyman's views on AI regulation, cooperation with China, and the use of AI in education.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Suleyman's Relationship with Altman and OpenAI

1. What is the nature of the relationship between Suleyman and Altman/OpenAI?

• Suleyman has a close yet distant relationship with Altman and OpenAI:
  • Microsoft has a deep partnership with OpenAI, in which it invested $10 billion, giving it a stake in OpenAI's business.
  • However, OpenAI is an independent company and Microsoft does not own or control it. Suleyman and Altman are good friends and have a lot of respect for each other.
  • Suleyman was previously a rival of OpenAI, as he founded the AI company DeepMind which was acquired by Google.

2. How does Suleyman view the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI?

• Suleyman sees the relationship as a long-term one, stating "that's how it's going to roll for many, many years to come."
• He believes the close partnership is important, as it is appreciated by Microsoft's investors and enterprise customers.
• However, Suleyman also acknowledges the "ferocious competition" between the two companies.

[02] Suleyman's Views on AI Regulation and Safety

1. What are Suleyman's views on AI regulation?

• Suleyman is not opposed to AI regulation, stating "Maybe it's because I'm a Brit with European tendencies, but I don't fear regulation in the way that sort of everyone seems to by default."
• He believes that regulation and a slower pace of AI development is necessary given the powerful and intimate nature of these technologies.
• Suleyman sees the current "healthy dialogue" around AI safety as a positive thing, and believes that "friction is going to be our friend here."

2. How does Suleyman view the concerns raised by former OpenAI employees about AI safety?

• Suleyman acknowledges the concerns raised by former OpenAI employees, but maintains his trust and respect for Altman.
• He describes the concerns as a "healthy dialogue" and believes that technologists and entrepreneurs like himself and Altman discussing regulation is a "great thing."

[03] Suleyman's Perspective on AI and China

1. What is Suleyman's view on the AI race between the US and China?

• Suleyman is cautious about framing the AI competition between the US and China as a new "Cold War."
• He believes the default "adversarial" framing will become a "self-fulfilling prophecy" and that the two countries should instead find ways to cooperate and be respectful of each other's different values.
• However, Suleyman also acknowledges that China is "building their own technology ecosystem, and they're spreading that around the world," and says the US should "really pay close attention."

[04] Suleyman's Perspective on AI in Education

1. How does Suleyman view the use of AI in education?

• Suleyman believes that AI can be a useful tool in education, similar to how calculators were initially viewed with skepticism but ultimately became a valuable aid.
• He envisions a future where AI could have a "profound conversation" with teachers and students in the classroom, acting as a "teacher's aide" to enhance the educational experience.
• Suleyman does not seem overly concerned about the potential downsides of students using AI for schoolwork, stating that we should be "slightly careful about fearing the downside of every tool."