Latest news with #ChatGPT-maker
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI brings on former Sen. Laphonza Butler
SAN FRANCISCO — Former Sen. Laphonza Butler is now advising OpenAI, her first known client since the California Democrat left Congress and landed at the global public affairs firm Actum, people familiar with the contract told POLITICO and the ChatGPT-maker confirmed. Tapped by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat, Butler served just over a year in the Senate to complete the term before returning to her roots as a behind-the-scenes power broker and becoming a partner at Actum. The California Democrat is barred from lobbying for a year as a former member of Congress. It's not clear what issues Butler will be providing guidance on for the AI developer. OpenAI is facing an inflection point in its plans for future growth, hoping contentious changes to a more conventional corporate structure will help the company raise money to keep ahead of cash-slinging competitors. Those plans have run up against fierce resistance from former co-founder Elon Musk and civic leaders, particularly in California, home to the company headquarters and where Butler touts powerful connections with the labor world. Three people familiar with Butler's new gig, granted anonymity to disclose private personnel moves, confirmed it to POLITICO. An OpenAI spokesperson separately told POLITICO Butler is an adviser. The former senator did not respond to a request for comment. Prior to joining Congress in 2023, Butler was a longtime labor leader with the Service Employees International Union and a campaign adviser to former Vice President Kamala Harris. She came to the Senate from the top post at EMILY's List, which seeks to elect female candidates who support abortion rights. OpenAI is not her first industry rodeo. She previously worked in private sector consulting for companies like Uber through the firm rebranded as Bearstar Strategies and later made at least $1 million from Airbnb stock as the short-term rental platform's director for public policy. Butler went into political consulting in 2018 as preparation for Harris' not-yet-unannounced first presidential run. Harris aides and allies told POLITICO earlier this year that she is seriously considering a run for governor in California and gave herself until the end of the summer to decide whether to enter the crowded field. Butler said in a January interview that she would provide Actum clients with strategic consulting services, indicating a special interest in 'the intersection of work and workers with technology and how we can build a society that works for everyone.' She intended to split her time at the firm between Los Angeles and D.C. During her Senate stint, Butler ventured into introducing some bills on artificial intelligence. One directed federal agencies to use the technology to better predict and respond to extreme weather. Another proposed $250 millionin government funding to educate students and upskill marginalized communities for jobs in an AI future. Neither passed that session. The nexus of AI and race has been of particular interest to Butler. It repeatedly featured as a theme in her questions during congressional hearings. She said in late 2023 that the technology is 'already widening preexisting inequities,' but then hosted a panel last fall about how AI can empower Black communities. There, she also reflected on AI's potential to displace workers, telling attendees that 'fewer people are going to be required across broader industries, particularly those in … traditionally white-collar positions.' On a separate but just as thorny issue, Butler celebrated Newsom signing legislation in Sacramento last year, backed by the powerful Hollywood actors' guild SAG-AFTRA and meant to protect performers' digital likeness in the age of AI deepfakes. Still, she has returned to a more bullish view at times, including in one October interview where the then-senator said she wanted to protect Americans without stifling the opportunities that AI could bring. She argued lawmakers don't need to make 'false choices' between the interests of AI executives and workers. She's praised Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the Biden administration for creating spaces to gather feedback on AI from labor, civil society and community leaders. OpenAI has been stepping up its engagement with those segments in the last few months as it attempts to shift toward a more conventional business structure and curb groups' concerns. In the past year, OpenAI hired at least one other Harris ally. The AI company's global affairs team is staffed by Debbie Mesloh, Harris' old campaign consultant and friend, and Marisa Moret, whose time as chief of staff for the San Francisco city attorney coincided with Harris' as the district attorney. Butler, Moret and Chris Lehane, the Democratic strategist turned OpenAI's vice president of global affairs, all overlapped at Airbnb.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
JPMorgan starts research coverage of top private firms like OpenAI
JPMorgan Chase has begun publishing research notes on prominent private companies transforming industries, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. With many industry-leading private companies delaying public listings, they are attracting a growing share of investor capital, prompting institutional investors to track them more closely at earlier stages. Companies such as ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Elon Musk's SpaceX and TikTok-parent Bytedance now hold valuations that rival or surpass several major S&P 500 firms, blurring the distinction between public and private market influence. The largest US lender released its first report on OpenAI, the company that spurred Wall Street's AI gold rush, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Unlike traditional research notes, these brokerage reports will not feature estimates, price targets or ratings, Hussein Malik, head of global research said in the memo, which highlighted AI and software as core areas for private company coverage. "Private companies are becoming increasingly relevant to various industries, especially in the new economy space," Malik said. "The goal of this offering is to support our investor clients by providing structured information and tracking, offering deeper insights into key disruptors and their impact on the sectors in which they operate." Institutional investors are increasingly focused on private company research and investment opportunities as these firms develop technologies that influence mature sectors, the source added. Nearly 1,500 private startups have achieved unicorn status, having raised funding at valuations above $1 billion, according to PitchBook's tracker. North America leads globally with over 1,000 unicorns, collectively valued at nearly $4 trillion. As private companies play a growing role in transforming legacy industries, Wall Street is adjusting to rising demand for insights into these influential firms, reflecting a shift in how market power is assessed.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
JPMorgan eyes new research frontier with coverage of private firms, source says
FILE PHOTO: A J.P. Morgan logo is seen in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase has begun publishing research notes on prominent private companies transforming industries, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. With many industry-leading private companies delaying public listings, they are attracting a growing share of investor capital, prompting institutional investors to track them more closely at earlier stages. Companies such as ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Elon Musk's SpaceX and TikTok-parent Bytedance now hold valuations that rival or surpass several major S&P 500 firms, blurring the distinction between public and private market influence. The largest U.S. lender released its first report on OpenAI, the company that spurred Wall Street's AI gold rush, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Unlike traditional research notes, these brokerage reports will not feature estimates, price targets or ratings, Hussein Malik, head of global research said in the memo, which highlighted AI and software as core areas for private company coverage. "Private companies are becoming increasingly relevant to various industries, especially in the new economy space," Malik said. "The goal of this offering is to support our investor clients by providing structured information and tracking, offering deeper insights into key disruptors and their impact on the sectors in which they operate." Institutional investors are increasingly focused on private company research and investment opportunities as these firms develop technologies that influence mature sectors, the source added. Nearly 1,500 private startups have achieved unicorn status, having raised funding at valuations above $1 billion, according to PitchBook's tracker. North America leads globally with over 1,000 unicorns, collectively valued at nearly $4 trillion. As private companies play a growing role in transforming legacy industries, Wall Street is adjusting to rising demand for insights into these influential firms, reflecting a shift in how market power is assessed. (Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Yash Kumar, the project lead of OpenAI's ChatGPT Agent that can control your computer and do tasks for you
Yash Kumar ChatGPT Agent TL;DR OpenAI is developing an AI tool called ChatGPT Agents, designed to act as a virtual computer for automating various digital tasks. The project is headed by Yash Kumar , a Member of Technical Staff and Product Lead at OpenAI, an alumnus of IIIT Hyderabad. He has worked at Google for 8 years The tool can manage calendars, summarise meetings, plan meals, and perform other digital tasks, even running them in the background. ChatGPT Agents will seek user confirmation for critical actions. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has announced an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, ChatGPT Agents, designed to function as a virtual computer capable of automating a wide array of digital tasks. ChatGPT Agents aim to extend beyond traditional browser interactions, allowing the AI to interact with an entire virtual operating system. However, apart from the automation of tasks, there's another interesting part of this announcement – the person who is leading the project. The project is said to be spearheaded by Yash Kumar, a Member of Technical Staff and Product Lead at OpenAI who recently demonstrated the tool's capabilities during a briefing with The Verge. Indian-origin engineer is heading ChatGPT Agents project at OpenAI Yash Kumar, an alumnus of IIIT Hyderabad – one of India's leading engineering institutions – joined OpenAI in November 2023. Based at the company's San Francisco headquarters, Kumar is now at the forefront of developing this ambitious new AI tool. His LinkedIn profile doesn't reveal much about him except that he worked in Google as software engineer for 8 years, and has also worked at DoorDash before joining the Sam Altman-led company. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Speaking to The Verge, Kumar explained that the development team is currently 'optimising for hard tasks' to ensure a smoother user experience. The system is designed to execute digital tasks autonomously while still maintaining a crucial layer of user oversight. This means that the system will ask the user for confirmation before undertaking critical actions such as sending emails or booking appointments. Isa Fulford, who leads research on the ChatGPT Agent project, highlighted the system's ability to run tasks in the background. 'Even if it takes 15 minutes, half an hour, it's quite a big speed-up compared to how long it would take you to do it,' Fulford said, noting the convenience of 'kick[ing] something off in the background and then come back to it.' OpenAI says ChatGPT Agent system is fast and 'safe' OpenAI has incorporated security safeguards into the ChatGPT Agent system that were initially developed for models with 'high biological and chemical capabilities.' OpenAI stated that there is currently no "direct evidence that the model could meaningfully help a novice create severe biological or chemical harm." Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What are ChatGPT Agents? ChatGPT Agents are OpenAI's new AI tool designed to act as a 'virtual computer.' They can perform a wide range of digital tasks automatically, interacting with a virtual operating system beyond just a web browser. 2. What kinds of tasks/ actions can ChatGPT Agents perform? ChatGPT Agents can manage calendars, summarise meetings, plan meals and handle various other digital tasks. 3. Who is leading the development of ChatGPT Agents? Yash Kumar, a Member of Technical Staff and Product Lead at OpenAI, is leading the development of ChatGPT Agents from OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters. 4. What safety measures are built into ChatGPT Agents? Yes, OpenAI has built strong security safeguards into the system. These protections were initially developed for handling models with 'high biological and chemical capabilities' to prevent misuse. 5. How do ChatGPT Agents interact with users for critical actions? While the system can automate tasks, it is designed to check with the user before performing critical actions, such as sending emails or booking appointments, ensuring user control. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI goes to one of Microsoft's biggest competitors for more AI computational power
Representative image ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has said that it expects to use Google's cloud infrastructure for its popular artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. The reach to one of the biggest competitors of Microsoft – the tech giant company that has spent about $13 billion in the company – for additional capacity aligns with its desire for more computing power to meet heavy demand after initially relying exclusively on Microsoft for cloud capacity. According to a report by CNBC, OpenAI has added Google to a list of suppliers, specifying that ChatGPT and its application programming interface will use the Google Cloud Platform, as well as Microsoft, CoreWeave and Oracle. The announcement amounts to a win for Google, whose cloud unit is younger and smaller than Amazon's and Microsoft's. Google also has a cloud business with Anthropic, which was established by former OpenAI executives. The Google infrastructure will run in the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom, the report added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo OpenAI's relationship with Microsoft and other cloud deals Last year, Oracle announced that it was partnering with Microsoft and OpenAl 'to extend the Microsoft Azure Al platform to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure' to give OpenAI additional computing power. In March, OpenAI committed to a cloud agreement with CoreWeave in a five-year deal worth nearly $12 billion. Microsoft said in January that it had agreed to move to a model of providing the right of first refusal anytime OpenAI needs more computing resources, rather than being its exclusive vendor across the board. Microsoft continues to hold the exclusive on OpenAI's programming interfaces. OpenAI and Microsoft's relations have evolved since last year, with Microsoft naming OpenAI as a competitor last year as both companies sell AI tools for developers and offer subscriptions to companies. Sam Altman, OpenAI's co-founder and CEO, said in April that the startup, which draws on Nvidia graphics processing units to power its large language models, was facing capacity constraints. 'if anyone has GPU capacity in 100k chunks we can get asap please call!' he wrote in an X post at the time. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
