Aaron Swartz's Old Critique of Sam Altman Resurfaces Amid OpenAI's Policy Push

A years-old quote from the late Aaron Swartz calling Altman a 'sociopath' recirculated on the same day OpenAI published its social contract proposal, drawing uncomfortable juxtapositions.

As OpenAI published its industrial policy document calling for a new social contract, @AISafetyMemes resurfaced a quote from the late Aaron Swartz describing Sam Altman as a "sociopath" who "would do anything." The quote, which has circulated periodically since Altman's rise to prominence, drew renewed attention given the day's context: Altman positioning himself as a steward of responsible AI development.

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