OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admits his biggest fear for AI: 'It can go quite wrong'

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed the risks and benefits of AI at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on May 16, 2023. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told a panel of senators Tuesday that his greatest fear as his company develops artificial intelligence capabilities is that is causes major harmful disruption for people, and acknowledged that AI has this potential downside if it isn't properly regulated. "My worst fears are that we cause significant – we, the field, the technology industry – cause significant harm to the world," Altman told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. "I think that could happen in a lot of different ways. It's why we started the company."