Ethics

ByteDance terminated two former employees involved in its Doubao large language model team for violating conflict of interest policies. A Seed team employee and their supporting HRBP failed to disclose their close relationship and made false statements during an investigation. The company dismissed both employees, withheld bonuses, and highlighted its commitment to ethical standards amid rapid AI growth. This follows a broader crackdown on internal misconduct at ByteDance.

“The OpenAI Files” report reveals a company shift from its founding mission of prioritizing AI safety to focusing on profit. Former employees allege CEO Sam Altman’s leadership fuels this change, citing concerns about untrustworthiness and a culture that de-emphasizes safety. They advocate for restoring the non-profit core, enforcing profit caps, and implementing independent oversight to safeguard AI’s future, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in this powerful technology’s development.