An OpenAI publicist attempted to steer chief executive Sam Altman away from a difficult subject during an interview with Vanity Fair‘s Mark Guiducci, after the editor raised the case of a ChatGPT user who died by suicide. When Guiducci pressed Altman on the incident, the publicist warned that time was running short, saying she would like to “move on” to another topic.
How the exchange unfolded
The interruption came shortly after Guiducci asked Altman whether he knew who Laura Reiley is. Reiley is a journalist who wrote an essay for The New York Times about her daughter’s conversations with ChatGPT before she took her own life. “Her daughter committed suicide after speaking to ChatGPT. ChatGPT did not tell her to kill herself—,” Guiducci said, just before the publicist stepped in.
“Mark, we have two minutes left. I want to be respectful, but I’d like to move on and talk a little bit about the future and what’s coming,” the publicist said. Even after Guiducci explained that he intended to finish the question and then return to the earlier subject, the publicist pushed back, stating they had to leave within a minute or two.
Altman addresses the privacy question
Despite the resistance, the interview continued. Guiducci asked Altman whether the company planned to use conversations with ChatGPT to shape policies around its response to a user’s mental health crisis. “These are some of the hardest questions that we face or that anybody developing this technology faces,” Altman replied. “You know, should we release people’s private data and some of their hardest moments to researchers? I think probably not without their consent. Or I should say, not without their consent.”
When approached for comment about the interruption, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the interview was running over, which was why the company ultimately asked to schedule additional time to continue the conversation after Altman addressed the topic.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, or is anxious, depressed, upset or needs to talk, support is available. In the UK and Ireland, the Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide both list crisis helplines by country.
Source
Image: theverge.com
