Edward Snowden publishes new message: “You have been warned”

Edward Snowden wrote on social media to his nearly 6 million followers: “Never trust @OpenAI… You have been warned,” following the appointment of retired US Army General Paul Nakasone on the board of directors of the artificial intelligence technology company.

Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, was charged with espionage by the Justice Department in 2013 after leaking thousands of top-secret documents, exposing the agency’s surveillance of information of private citizens.

He remains a polarizing figure, with some praising his work as a whistleblower revealing surveillance and intelligence-gathering practices, while others say he has threatened national security and is a traitor. Since the escape, he has lived in Russia and obtained Russian citizenship in 2022.

In a post Friday morning on X, formerly Twitter, Snowden shared an article providing information about OpenAI’s new board member. Nakasone is a former director of the NSA, the longest-serving leader of US Cyber ​​Command and head of the Central Security Service. He retired from the NSA, a position he had held since 2018, in February.

“As a matter of priority, Nakasone will join the Safety and Security Committee of the Board of Directors,” OpenAI’s announcement said. OpenAI is known for its widely used artificial intelligence product, ChatGPT. Earlier this week, the company, led by Sam Altman, announced a partnership with Apple, writing in a press release: “Apple is integrating ChatGPT into experiences on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, allowing users to access features of ChatGPT, including images and documents. understanding, without needing to switch from one tool to another.

According to the OpenAI website, the board of directors is made up of three people: Bret Taylor, Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo. As a member of the board of directors, “Nakasone’s ideas will also contribute to OpenAI’s efforts to better understand how AI can be used to strengthen cybersecurity by quickly detecting and responding to cybersecurity threats,” says the ‘announcement.

In the release, Nakasone said, “OpenAI’s dedication to its mission aligns closely with my own values ​​and experience in public service. I look forward to contributing to OpenAI’s efforts to ensure that artificial general intelligence is safe and beneficial for people around the world.

In response to the news, Snowden wrote in an X-post: “They have completely removed their mask: never trust @OpenAI or its products (ChatGPT, etc.). There is only one reason to appoint an @NSAGov director to your This is a deliberate and calculated betrayal of the rights of every person on Earth. » He concluded his message by writing: “You have been warned.”

Snowden’s post received widespread attention, with nearly 2 million views, 43,500 likes, 16,000 reposts and about 1,000 comments as of Friday afternoon.

News week contacted the OpenAI press team, the communications team at Vanderbilt University – where Nakasone directs the Institute for National Defense and Global Security – and Snowden via email for comment on Friday afternoon.