OpenAI Takes Step to Mitigate AI's Mental Health Impact with New Advisory Council

OpenAI Forms Advisory Council on Wellbeing and AI Amid Growing Concerns In a move to address growing concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mental health, OpenAI announced today that it is establishing an advisory council focused on users' wellbeing. The Expert Council on Well-being and AI comprises eight researchers and experts who will provide guidance on the intersection of technology and mental health. The council's formation comes as lawsuits have raised questions about the role of AI companies in cases where teenagers have committed suicide after sharing their plans with chatbots. OpenAI has acknowledged that its new council has no real power to guide its operations, but rather serves as a platform for learning and collaboration. "We remain responsible for the decisions we make, but will continue learning from this council, the Global Physician Network, policymakers, and more, as we build advanced AI systems in ways that support human well-being," said an OpenAI spokesperson. The advisory council's members include experts who were consulted during the development of parental controls. Some notable members include Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a neuroscientist at Northeastern University, and Dr. Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera and former chief scientist at Google Brain. "This is an important step in acknowledging that AI can have unintended consequences on mental health," said Dr. Barrett. "By working together with experts from various fields, we can ensure that our technology is developed responsibly." The formation of OpenAI's advisory council follows a growing trend among tech companies to prioritize users' wellbeing and safety. In recent years, several high-profile cases have highlighted the need for greater regulation and oversight in the development of AI. For instance, lawsuits against Meta and other social media platforms have raised concerns about their role in facilitating online harassment and hate speech. OpenAI's move has been welcomed by some experts as a positive step towards addressing these issues. "This is a recognition that AI companies must take responsibility for the impact of their technology on users' mental health," said Dr. Kate Crawford, a researcher at Microsoft Research. However, others have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of advisory councils in driving meaningful change. The current status of OpenAI's advisory council remains unclear, with no clear timeline for its first meeting or any concrete plans for implementation. Nevertheless, the formation of this council marks an important step towards acknowledging the need for greater collaboration and oversight in AI development. Background OpenAI is a leading developer of artificial intelligence systems, including chatbots and language models. The company has faced criticism over concerns about the safety and ethics of its technology, particularly with regards to users' mental health. In response, OpenAI has established an advisory council focused on wellbeing and AI, comprising experts from various fields. Additional Perspectives The formation of OpenAI's advisory council raises questions about the role of regulatory bodies in overseeing AI development. "This is a recognition that AI companies must take responsibility for the impact of their technology on users' mental health," said Dr. Kate Crawford. However, others have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of advisory councils in driving meaningful change. Next Developments The current status of OpenAI's advisory council remains unclear, with no clear timeline for its first meeting or any concrete plans for implementation. Nevertheless, the formation of this council marks an important step towards acknowledging the need for greater collaboration and oversight in AI development. *Reporting by Engadget.*