An OpenAI publicist tried to change the subject of CEO Sam Altman’s interview with Vanity Fairis Mark Guiducci after the editor mentioned the suicide of a ChatGPT user. When Guiducci confronted Altman about the incident, the publicist warned Guiducci that she had no time left, telling her she would like to “move on” to another topic.
The interruption came shortly after Guiducci asked Altman if he knew who Laura Reiley, a journalist who wrote an essay for The New York Times about his daughter’s conversations with ChatGPT before committing suicide. “Her daughter killed herself after talking to ChatGPT. ChatGPT didn’t tell her to kill herself…” Guiducci said just before the publicist interrupted.
“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 up,” the publicist said. Even after Guiducci explained that he was going to finish the question and then “get back to what we were talking about,” the publicist retorted. “We really have to get out the door in a minute or two,” she said.
Despite the denial, the interview continued with Guiducci asking Altman if the company planned to use conversations with ChatGPT to shape policies surrounding its response to a user’s mental health crisis. “These are some of the most difficult questions that we face or that anyone developing this technology faces,” Altman said. “You know, should we release people’s private data and some of their most difficult moments to researchers? I think probably not without their consent. Or should I say, not without their consent.”
When reached for comment on the interruption, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said, “The interview was winding down, so we ultimately asked to allow even more time to continue the conversation after Sam addressed this critically important topic.”
Gn bussni
