zlacker

This seems like an unnecessarily cynical take on things. And ultimately, if the outcome is the same, what do you (or anyone) really care if people are making more money from it or if there are commercial purposes?

The OpenAI staff are literally some of the most employable folks on earth; if they have a problem with the new mission it's incredibly easy for them to leave and find something else.

Additionally, I think there's a reason to give Sam the benefit of the doubt. YC has made multiple risky bets that were in line with their stated mission rather than a clear profit motive. For example, adding nonprofits to the batch and supporting UBI research.

Their's nothing wrong with having a profit motive or using the upsides of capitalism to further their goals.

>>jamest+(OP)
It most certainly is not unnecessarily cynical. The point is that money clouds the decision-making process and responsibilities of those involved - which is the whole ethos that OpenAI was founded on.