Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI: “You have to find the right balance between regulation and innovation”

All of this “balance”… After controversy arose in Europe over the implications of a very strict artificial intelligence (AI) framework for ChatGPT, Sam Altman spoke much more diplomatically on Friday, May 26 in Paris: “We need to find the right balance between regulation and innovation,” pleaded OpenAI’s CEO before a rapt audience of techies and entrepreneurs gathered at Paris startup incubator Station F. In front of him, the minister’s delegate for digital issues, Jean-Noel Barro, introduced the arrival. “sat down” using the same formula. A sign of a common desire to be polite.

This tone reflects some de-escalation compared to the remarks reported by the British media on Wednesday, May 24. Chatbot creator ChatGPT said it had “some” Criticism points to the AI ​​Act, a European regulation currently under review. “If we can perform, we will perform. Otherwise, we will stop working in Europe… There are technical limitations to what is possible. According to him, according to press reports. The sharp reaction of Brussels did not delay: “Is this blackmail? »European Commissioner Thierry Breton wrote about it on Twitter.

“The titles of the articles didn’t really match what I wanted to say” Convinced on Friday, Mr. Altman, who utters the misunderstanding. “We will continue to work in Europe” He said and added: “We love Europe. »

Another sensitive point, copyright

In addition to subtlety of tone, Sam Altman agrees with the spirit of the AI ​​act: “The authorization mode, according to security standards, is completely relevant, which suits me very well. » But he remembered that “details” It mattered and that it was “Still Part of the Obscurity” in the text.

The latest version issued by the European Parliament therefore requires publishers of large multi-purpose AI models to describe the data on which the software was trained, to ensure its quality and also to ensure that it does not contain the risk of discriminatory bias or the publication of dangerous content. “These text and image databases are gigantic. If we were asked, for example, to be 100% sure that the element was not there, it would be difficult.”she begged.

Another very sensitive point: copyright. Parliament requests a list of all protected documents and work used to prepare the artificial intelligence system. And Mr Barro, like the economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, is in favor of compensating the media, artists or rights-holding companies. “The idea of ​​some form of compensation seems reasonable,” Mr. Altman admitted.