✨ dateline°hard word: 21 NOV°hard word 2023. At OpenAI°hard word, an opaque°hard word decision by a rump°hard word board-of-directors°hard word to fire the CEO°hard word has led to chaos within°hard word the company flooding°hard word the news cycle°hard word. In this type of situation, it is advised°hard word to wait at least six weeks before commenting°hard word as an outsider°hard word on the specifics°hard word of the situation.
💡 in a situation where there are so many different things that have gone wrong, discussing a few of the more tangential°hard word causes does not fall under the EMBARGO°hard word requirements°hard word.
⚙️ so EMBARGO°hard word is a word where I would like to use 汉字 rather than Latin°hard word characters°hard word. but I have so consistently°hard word gotten negative°hard word feedback°hard word about that usage°hard word pattern I am not doing°hard word so for now. also, I don't actually know how to say EMBARGO°hard word in 汉字; the word means more 神奇的沉默 than 不能交易 here.
The first rule of corporate°hard word governance°hard word is that the concept°hard word of "governance°hard word" is a myth°hard word.
⚙️ as always, the word "myth°hard word" does not imply°hard word that it is "false".
Companies are run by people. And no amount of words on paper can change that. Modern°hard word history is rife°hard word with examples of people deliberately°hard word misinterpreting°hard word those words for their own benefit°hard word.
In that line, OpenAI's°hard word many attempts to make sure that "nobody controls the technology°hard word" have only resulted in other people controlling°hard word the technology°hard word.
💡 or, more accurately°hard word, other people thinking they control the technology°hard word. Authority does not always reside°hard word where people think it does. If 90% of the staff can go to a different company, along with all their intellectual°hard word property, the OpenAI°hard word board didn't actually control anything°hard word.
OpenAI°hard word has been very insistent°hard word about not allowing anyone true equity°hard word. Instead, they are offering "profit participation°hard word units". As a matter of law, these must be viewed as "employee°hard word profit sharing" and not equity°hard word. Both because of the cap°hard word on possible returns, and because of the lack°hard word of shareholder°hard word voting°hard word rights.
💭 I tried an unusual°hard word corporate°hard word structure myself, in a failed°hard word "Big Solar°hard word" venture°hard word last year. It failed°hard word for a dozen different reasons, but one of them was the cap°hard word table structure. I allocated°hard word myself a sizable°hard word "founder's°hard word equity°hard word" block, with a restriction°hard word that the shares would void°hard word completely if the rate-of-increase°hard word of the Mauna°hard word Loa°hard word CO°hard word2 concentration°hard word graph°hard word (currently at about 2.25 ppm°hard word/year) did not decrease substantially over the next five years.There were two problems with this solution. First, it was needlessly°hard word complicated°hard word; every conversation where it arose turned out badly. But this can be attributed°hard word to the 新 nature of the solution; people always dislike°hard word innovations°hard word when they are new and unknown.More important was that the "tether°hard word me to the mast°hard word" aspect°hard word didn't actually work. Other investors°hard word would have an direct°hard word financial°hard word benefit°hard word to sabotaging°hard word the company's°hard word mission°hard word. And a pure°hard word profit motive°hard word would only minimally°hard word impact°hard word my decisions.
But my approach°hard word did have one advantage°hard word over OpenAI's°hard word: it was abundantly°hard word clear who controlled°hard word the company. Control of OpenAI°hard word is extremely opaque°hard word.
💡 and, more bluntly°hard word than the above hints°hard word: OpenAI°hard word is controlled°hard word by a cult°hard word. A different cult°hard word than the one that controls 99% of American businesses.
🌎 yes, "single-minded°hard word focus°hard word on generating profits for shareholders°hard word (and executives°hard word)" is a cult°hard word. But when a cult°hard word becomes prevalent°hard word enough, it becomes impolite°hard word to describe it that way.