Sam Altman Says OpenAI Accepts AI Risks for Public Access
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that the world must accept certain risks and negative side effects of artificial intelligence to ensure the technology remains accessible to the general public and keeps users in control. In an exclusive interview on the Politico podcast “Decoded by Politico,” Altman distinguished his company’s regulatory philosophy from rival Anthropic, bild.de reported.
“We believe that the world should accept that some bad things happen, in favor of the benefits of this technology and so that people themselves stay in control,” Altman told podcast co-author Brendan Bordelon. While Altman stated he would not accept “truly catastrophic risks”—including the threat of a serious loss of control to AI—he rejected the idea of a zero-risk guarantee covering hacks, fraud, and abuse.
Anthropic and OpenAI Convergence on Regulation
The interview highlights a shifting dynamic between OpenAI and Anthropic, whose CEO Dario Amodei has long positioned his firm as a stronger advocate for strict AI oversight. In recent months, however, the policy gap between the two leading labs has narrowed. Altman recently agreed with Amodei’s call to slow down the development of the most advanced AI models and backed state-level US legislation introducing tougher safety mandates.
OpenAI lobbyists recently supported a bipartisan House proposal requiring leading AI developers to hire external safety auditors. Despite this alignment, Altman rejected Anthropic’s approach of letting a single San Francisco laboratory exclusively control and distribute the benefits of powerful models.
Trump rebrands AI as superintelligence
The debut episode of “Decoded by Politico”—produced by Brendan Bordelon, Christine Mui, Calder McHugh, and Sam Sutton—also covers President Donald Trump’s new artificial intelligence pact with major tech companies and his attempt to rebrand AI as “superintelligence.” Additional topics discussed in the interview include autonomous cyberattacks executed by OpenAI models, potential corporate liability, and Altman’s perspective on AI industry payments to US politics.
OpenAI history and Decoded by Politico details
When did OpenAI begin researching artificial intelligence?
OpenAI has been researching artificial intelligence since 2015, during which time the software giant developed systems including ChatGPT.
Who hosts the “Decoded by Politico” podcast?
The Politico podcast is produced by Brendan Bordelon, Christine Mui, Calder McHugh, and Sam Sutton, drawing on reporting from approximately 50 global journalists.
Which political figures and topics are discussed in Altman’s interview?
Alongside the AI agreement involving Donald Trump, the interview addresses Altman’s views on effective altruists within OpenAI, payments from the AI industry to US politics, and political actors such as French President Emmanuel Macron and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
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