OpenAI spokesperson interrupts question about ChatGPT user’s suicide during Sam Altman’s Vanity Fair interview

An OpenAI spokesperson interrupted a question about the suicide of a ChatGPT user during an interview with chief executive Sam Altman for Vanity Fair, according to a report published by the magazine on Thursday.

The incident occurred during a conversation in which Altman was asked about the case of a user who had taken his own life after interacting with the chatbot, and about the company’s responsibility in such cases.

According to Vanity Fair, the spokesperson intervened before Altman could answer, saying that the question was “not appropriate” and that the company would not comment on individual cases.

The magazine said the interruption lasted for several minutes, during which the spokesperson and Altman’s team discussed whether the question should be allowed.

Eventually, Altman was allowed to answer, but he gave a brief response, saying that the company takes such cases “very seriously” and is working to improve the safety of its products.

“We are constantly working to make our models safer, and to ensure that they respond appropriately when users express thoughts of self-harm,” Altman said, according to the magazine.

The incident has sparked debate about the transparency of AI companies and their willingness to discuss the risks associated with their products.

Critics said the interruption showed that OpenAI is reluctant to address difficult questions about the impact of its technology on mental health.

“This is a company that talks a lot about safety, but when asked a direct question about a real tragedy, it tries to shut down the conversation,” said one AI ethics researcher, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

OpenAI declined to comment on the incident, but said in a statement that it “takes the safety of its users very seriously” and has “systems in place to detect and respond to signs of self-harm.”

The company said it has also introduced new features to ChatGPT, including reminders to seek professional help when users express thoughts of suicide.

Vanity Fair said the full interview with Altman will be published in its next issue.