The latest endeavor from OpenAI has something of a secret agent ring to it. Imagine a secret team, code-named "Preparedness," working diligently behind the scenes, their mission: to save the world from AI catastrophe. And if the idea of an AI company being worried about the potential disasters caused by AI doesn't give you the sweats, then you need to sit and have a think.

Yes, you read that right. The third most valuable startup in the world, OpenAI is so serious about the potential risks around AI that it has conjured up this covert squad, and they're ready to tackle anything from rogue AI attempting to trick gullible humans (deepfakes, anyone?) to the stuff of sci-fi thrillers including “chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear” threats. Yep. Nuclear.

Prepare for Anything

The mastermind behind Preparedness, Aleksander Madry, hails from MIT’s Center for Deployable Machine Learning Machine Learning Machine learning is defined as an application of artificial intelligence (AI) that looks to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning is a rapidly growing field that also focuses on the development of computer programs that can access data and use it learn for themselves.This has many potential benefits for most industries and sectors, including the financial services industry. Machine Learning ExplainedMachine learning can be explained Machine learning is defined as an application of artificial intelligence (AI) that looks to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning is a rapidly growing field that also focuses on the development of computer programs that can access data and use it learn for themselves.This has many potential benefits for most industries and sectors, including the financial services industry. Machine Learning ExplainedMachine learning can be explained Read this Term. He’s like a real life John Connor, albeit without Arnie. OpenAI's Sam Altman, known for his AI doomsday prophecies, doesn't mess around when it comes to the existential threats AI might pose. While he's not in the business of fighting cyborgs with his cigar smoking friend, he's certainly ready to tackle the darker side of AI.

We are building a new Preparedness team to evaluate, forecast, and protect against the risks of highly-capable AI—from today's models to AGI.

Goal: a quantitative, evidence-based methodology, beyond what is accepted as possible: https://t.co/8lwtfMR1Iy

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) October 26, 2023

A Contest with Consequences

In their quest for vigilance, OpenAI's offering a whopping $25,000 prize and a seat at the Preparedness table for the ten brightest submissions from the AI community. They're looking for ingenious yet plausible scenarios of AI misuse that could spell catastrophe. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: save the world from AI mayhem.

Undercover Work in the AI Safety Realm

Preparedness isn't your typical band of heroes. Their role extends beyond facing villains. They'll also craft an AI safety bible, covering the ABCs of risk management Risk Management One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, Read this Term and prevention. OpenAI knows that the tech they're cooking up can be a double-edged sword, so they're putting their resources to work to make sure it stays on the right side.

Ready for Anything

The unveiling of Preparedness at a U.K. government AI safety summit is no coincidence. It's OpenAI's bold declaration that they're taking AI risks to heart, as they prepare for a future where AI could be the answer to everything, or a serious problem.