Beyond Closed Doors: Rethinking AI Development in the Wake of OpenAI’s Upheaval

The recent events at OpenAI, culminating in the dismissal and quick reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO, have rippled through the tech industry. This episode has cast a spotlight not only on corporate power plays but also on the profound influence artificial intelligence (AI) exerts on business and society. The ways in which AI has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, in forms barely conceivable just a few years ago, warrant a critical examination of the development methodologies of AI models, the driving forces behind them, and their far-reaching societal implications.

OpenAI’s turbulence is particularly significant due to its leading role in AI development. Its product, ChatGPT, has become a staple in the digital toolset of many, making the organization’s internal dynamics and the subsequent reactions from tech giants like Salesforce and Microsoft all the more noteworthy. These reactions reveal an acute awareness within the industry of the delicate interplay of power and the fragility of AI governance. The resolve showed by OpenAI’s employees, nearly ready to resign en masse in solidarity with Altman, underscores a potent lesson in leadership and the strength of community.

Yet, beneath this dramatic narrative lies a deeper concern: the reliance on proprietary technology and the concentration of control within a few corporate entities. This dominance in AI development carries the risk of dictating the course of human advancement to suit the strategic interests of these entities, potentially reducing individuals to passive onlookers in the unfolding saga of this transformative technology.

The open-source model presents itself as a vital counterbalance to these concerns. It ensures that advancements in AI are transparent, collaborative, and subject to the discerning eyes of a diverse, global community. This decentralized model of development serves to dilute the influence any single party might wield and erects a formidable barrier against the incorporation of malevolent intentions into AI systems.

Drawing on the precedent set by open-source initiatives such as Linux, which revolutionized supercomputing and significantly contributed to scientific progress, we can recognize the transformative potential of open-source AI. In contrast to the proprietary model, open-source AI projects champion the democratization of knowledge. They encourage transparency, pre-empt the propagation of harmful code, and facilitate development that reflects the multi-dimensional needs of humanity.

Open-source AI also promotes a culture of collective responsibility, urging a worldwide cadre of developers to strengthen AI defenses and integrate ethical considerations from the ground up. This decentralized approach to development promises a more egalitarian dissemination of AI’s capabilities, circumventing the dangers associated with monopolistic dominance and ensuring AI’s benefits are leveraged for the collective good.

The inclusive and equitable ethos of open-source AI stands not only as a defense against the monopolization of the technology but also as a catalyst for balanced and ethical growth. It epitomizes a dedication to collaborative progress, nurturing an AI ecosystem that is robust, principled, and sensitive to the diverse requirements of humanity.

However, the investment in resources such as time, infrastructure, and computational power required for contemporary AI development far exceeds that of earlier open-source projects. Despite the relatively modest investments in open-source AI when compared to their proprietary counterparts, the promise they hold for societal advancement is significant.

Reflecting on the early days of Linux, which initially trailed behind proprietary operating systems in features and adoption, we can draw parallels and find hope. The open-source community’s ethos of collaboration eventually propelled Linux to become the linchpin of modern digital infrastructure. AI stands at a similar crossroads today. While the pace of open-source AI development may not match that of proprietary efforts, its potential to benefit society is substantial.

It’s this potential that fuels the open-source AI movement, steering AI development toward a future that is democratic, transparent, and attuned to the full spectrum of human values. The open-source model is a testament to the conviction that significant technological advancements, like AI, should be forged in a manner that is open, accessible, and advantageous to all. It foresees a future where AI is a collective masterpiece, embodying the collective wisdom, creativity, and moral benchmarks of its global contributors.

As we forge ahead, the open-source community’s history of innovation and resilience offers a beacon of hope for the responsible evolution of AI. We must continue to champion the open-source model, ensuring that AI remains a force for good, reflective of a shared and beneficial vision for all of humanity. Through collaborative effort and a commitment to open innovation, we can anticipate and navigate the complex challenges ahead, shaping an AI future that is safe, equitable, and in service of the global community.

Battles Within: Drawing Parallels Between Worldly Wars and the War of Our Minds

Amidst the din and clamour of the world, wars wage on — evident on news channels and, more subtly but no less potently, within the corridors of our mind. Every headline or conversation seems to gravitate towards the tumult in our surroundings. While we vehemently engage in discussions, pen down our opinions, and take sides, there’s a more profound question at play. How attuned are we to the mental battles that dictate the course of our daily lives?

Our minds, in many ways, resemble the ever-active theaters of war. Each day brings forth millions of thoughts, each presenting its argument, each clamouring for dominance. These thoughts not only prompt our actions but also shape our emotions. Sometimes they evoke reactions we weren’t prepared for, spiraling us into a cascade of yet more thoughts. This perpetual dance of cognition and emotion is relentless, leaving us oftentimes drained and seeking respite.

Externally, we advocate for peace, championing diplomatic solutions and international cooperation to mend the world’s rifts. But have we been as proactive and compassionate about the conflicts within ourselves?

To comprehend this inner tussle, one might turn to ancient wisdom. The Mahabharata, an epic from India, serves as a mirror to this internal strife. Regarded by many scholars and philosophers as not just a historical war but a representation of the inner human conflict, it embodies the perennial clash of dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness). The characters, with their myriad complexities, echo the multifaceted nature of our thoughts, often caught between virtue and vice, action and inertia.

Worldly battles may leave scars on landscapes and communities, but the scars from our internal battles mar our spirit and essence. Recognizing this, shouldn’t we seek a compass, a guiding doctrine, that could lead us towards inner calm and equanimity?

A tranquil mind doesn’t signify the absence of challenges but the presence of an empowering peace. Such tranquility can pivot our life’s journey from mere existence to one infused with purpose and meaning. 

It’s undeniable that life, in its myriad shades, will always present challenges. Whether one is a monarch in a palace or a wanderer seeking refuge, a titan of industry or someone scouring for their next meal — life’s battles are agnostic to our external circumstances. They are a universal truth. But it’s in the sanctum of our mind that the approach to these battles is forged. It’s here that we decide whether to succumb or rise, to despair or hope, to forfeit or persevere. Achieving this mental equipoise is crucial, not just for facing life’s external battles, but to relish life’s journey, embracing both its ebb and flow.

So, how does one cultivate such a resilient and balanced mind?

The annals of Hindu philosophy offer myriad paths. Across ages, numerous sages, yogis, and spiritual luminaries have showcased the way, living embodiments of these teachings. Their lives and teachings provide invaluable insights, from meditation and yoga to selfless service and devotion, guiding souls in their quest for inner peace.

Ultimately, the journey to self-discovery, to finding that path of inner peace amidst life’s tempests, is perhaps life’s truest quest. Each of us must embark on this exploration, armed with introspection, guided by ancient wisdom, and fuelled by an unwavering commitment to inner harmony. 

30 years of Linux – just an operating system or catalyst of societal change?

To describe the impact of Linux all the adjectives put together would be inadequate. Linux has changed not just the technology world but our lives too, in many ways! It would not be an exaggeration if I say that no other software has had such a profound effect on the society. To understand this impact just look at what are the forces shaping our lives today:

  • The social media giants have fundamentally changed the social fabric of interactions
  • The e-commerce platforms have totally altered the way we go for shopping
  • IoT and cloud platforms have pushed technology into our kitchens and bedrooms
  • The power of instant news available in the remotest corner of the world through mobile phones has impacted the way we vote-in or vote-out the governments

When you go deeper into the foundation of these personal and social life changing forces, you would notice that these technology platforms are all powered by Linux – in fact they came into existence directly or indirectly because of Linux.

While Linux is just an operating system, it in itself and due to its open source development model has shaped the world in so many ways.

Linux – the operating system for computers:

Linux is not the first operating system. There have been many operating systems and many of them are technically superior too. Linux itself is an attempt to make something like Minix operating system. Few of the key reasons for popularity of Linux were:

  • A Unix like operating system being available on personal computers – 386 based computers at that time
  • Being developed in open and collaborative manner and later on released under GPL license (the license was changed to GPL after few months of its first release)
  • It was based on community development model but allowed monetization – one of the key reasons for switching to GPL license.

And what an impact Linux as an operating system made on technology fabric! Little did Linus Torvalds would have imagined in August of 1991 that there would be a commercial company selling Linux and it would attain a valuation of $34 Billion!!

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s there were more than dozen companies in the business of offering support to Linux. Apart from Red Hat there have been success stories like SuSe, Ubuntu, CentOS etc. Android and flavors of Linux running on hundreds of types of devices is a testimony to the versatility of Linux. To understand the impact of the Linux operating system you have to take deep breath and visualize that Linux is powering billions of mobile phones, billions of chips and micro devices going to Mars for discovery, millions of servers powering the internet and cloud infrastructure of the world!!

In my opinion, Linux has made even greater impact on our society than just an operating system. It is not the technology alone that has made the difference. If you look at the technology in a standalone mode, it was trying to mimic another operating system. It was not meant to offer any fundamentally new concept. So, what made such a huge impact? Let us look at that:

Linux  – the operating system for the societal development model

The community based development model’s success can be judged by the fact that Microsoft which was the strongest critic of the model in early 2000s has now embraced this model in a big way and is a big contributor to many critical open source based project.

Success of Linux established the confidence in its development model and led to embracing of large number of projects powering critical infrastructure of the 21st century world!

The success of social media giants, cloud platform companies, e-commerce companies that are shaping our lives lies in the underlying infrastructure that they run on. This infrastructure is powered by Linux and many open source software.

The open source development model has not only resulted in superior quality software but it has come to be associated with innovation. The development model’s distributed nature has empowered millions of developers in every corner of the world to innovate and contribute. It has given confidence to entrepreneurs and created a level playing field for innovation. The impact of this model is seen in every field of our lives.

The education institutions have opened up their classrooms and knowledge repositories, governments have opened up access to the data to the citizens, industries such as banking, brokerage firms, insurance companies have evolved their processes caused by both – the availability of technology platforms that are powered by open source software and by the community development model itself. The biggest change has been the way society has started interacting globally. Society has developed more confidence in the community led movement – be it technology or social cause.

For such a fundamental change to happen it needs a solid success story and Linux has shown that community led development can bring about this change. Although Linux is already 30 years old, but the success of this model would be felt for next at least 30 years!

“Can you hear me? You are on mute”

If one has to call phrase of the year for 2020, ‘Can you hear me?’ qualifies to be a clear winner. We all ended up spending so much time on Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Hangout, Team calls and have been saying this phrase so often. During the start of the meeting, first few seconds, often minutes, usually go in checking the audio and video settings. The phrase-of-the-year, ‘Can you hear me?’ is uttered umpteen number of times. These teething problems are not confined to only family and friends calls, but they are so common in the professional meetings too.

Closely followed by this phrase, in terms of usage, is ‘You are on mute’. Adjusting to digital mode of conversations has not been easy for many of us. We keep talking during the call while on mute but realize it only when no one responds or other team members point out to us.  Likewise, we have had many funny, at times embarrassing moments – sharing wrong screen, typing in wrong chat box etc during these e-meetings.

If we think more, these phrases actually have much more deeper meanings. Even though we used these phrases due to the challenges faced in digital communication, these actually represent our psychological status, most of the time. Let us examine what do these phrases actually mean.

Can you hear me?

‘Hear me out’

‘Listen to me’

‘Please, understand me’

…. 

Don’t we all want to be heard? Don’t we all yearn to have someone in our life who will listen to us, who will understand us? At a psychological level, in our normal life, we always want others to show understanding of our feelings. Even when we are having one-on-one conversation, many times we go through this feeling that other person is not listening. In the professional environment, in meetings, this is even more common – everyone talks, very few hear, and even fewer listen and our inner voice keeps saying ‘please listen to me’. We all want to be heard, we want to be understood as a person irrespective of the role (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, colleagues etc.) we are playing. But we have not expressed ourselves enough in the past. This digital mode of communication presented the opportunity for us to express our feelings, albeit, in a different setting. So next time, when we hear someone saying ‘Can you hear me?’ let us give it a deeper thought and try to hear him/her as a person.

‘You are on mute’

This is also a very common phrase and occurring. We find the person on the other side continue to talk without realizing that the mic is not switched on. Doesn’t this happen to all of us so many times. We want to express our thoughts, but for variety of reasons – for fear of expression or for fear of rejection, or fear of reaction, we end up talking to ourselves only, we talk to no one. Actually, if you think very deeply, so often we actually repeat many thoughts in our mind over and over. We examine or we try to convince ourselves about thoughts, decisions, perceptions, possibilities, scenarios etc. During this time, we are talking to ourselves only while no one is listening. So, this phrase ‘You are on mute’ also is a manifestation of our state of mind, only difference is that in the digital calls, others can see us while talking but they can’t hear us. 

Next time when others point out to you that you were on mute, just give a smile and be pleased to note that some one wants to hear you out!

Goodbye CentOS : Red Hat’s way of neutralizing competition

Goodbye CentOS!
CentOS, a free version of RHEL is not going to be available anymore for future versions. Red Hat has effectively neutralized the competition. This happened within Red Hat being acquired by IBM in 2019. Red Hat before being acquired by IBM had allowed continuation of CentOS project even after it ‘acquired’ it in 2014. Wast this decision an outcome of the typical corporate pressure?
Is the new community – under Rocky Linux going to rise to the occasion and show the power of collaboration is greater than corporate considerations?