OpenAI Disbands AGI Readiness Team Amid Leadership Changes

According to PANews, OpenAI is dissolving its 'AGI Readiness' team, with members being reassigned to other teams within the organization. This team was previously responsible for evaluating OpenAI's ability to handle increasingly powerful AI technologies and assessing global preparedness for such advancements. The decision comes as part of a broader restructuring within the company. On Wednesday, Miles Brundage, the chief advisor of the AGI Readiness team, announced his departure in a Substack post. Brundage cited his belief that external research would have a greater impact and that the opportunity cost of staying at OpenAI was too high. He also expressed a desire to reduce bias and felt that his goals at OpenAI had been achieved. Brundage noted that neither OpenAI nor other leading labs, nor the world at large, are ready to handle AGI. He plans to establish or join a nonprofit organization focused on AI policy research and advocacy, emphasizing the need for collective effort to maximize AI's safety and benefits. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that the company fully supports Brundage's decision and appreciates his contributions. They look forward to learning from his work and believe he will continue to raise the quality standards for industry and government policy-making in his new role. Previously, in May of last year, OpenAI decided to disband its Superalignment team, which focused on long-term AI risks, just a year after its formation.