As a journalist, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of having the right board members in a company. The weekend drama that unfolded with OpenAI’s board members was a perfect example of how the wrong boards can damage a company. Despite having fancy titles like “Director of Strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology,” these board members may have had a false sense of understanding when it came to the complex process of entrepreneurial innovation.
The religion of “effective altruism” that OpenAI’s board members followed could have hindered the world’s progress towards tremendous benefits from artificial intelligence. Imagine a world where everyone has access to free doctors and tutors, thanks to AI advancements. That is what is at stake with the promise of AI.
In my opinion, the best companies are those that are led and executed by their founding entrepreneurs, who put everything on the line to challenge the status quo and make the world a better place. While there are risks involved in this approach, such as abuse or failure, the benefits far outweigh them. Sam Altman, for example, is one such founder who faces risk head-on and is focused on making a positive impact in the world. It is crucial for companies to have leaders who share this mindset if they want to succeed and leave a lasting legacy.
