On Monday, OpenAI released an extensive economic proposal aimed at mitigating the impact of artificial intelligence on the American workforce. The plan suggests higher capital gains taxes for corporations using AI and proposes a public wealth fund, among other measures.

However, the timing could not have been worse. Just days earlier, The New Yorker published a damning 17,000-word article detailing Sam Altman’s history of deceit. Critics argue that unless OpenAI follows through on its promises, these proposals will remain just another piece of paper.

Malo Bourgon from the Machine Intelligence Research Institute admitted that while some team members may have genuinely cared about the document, there is a risk they could become disillusioned and leave, leaving behind only well-intentioned ideals.

OpenAI’s history with government engagement is also concerning. The company has been accused of suppressing laws containing its own safety proposals and even subpoenaing supporters in an effort to silence them. This behaviour raises questions about the sincerity of their latest policy paper.