Musk Reposts Email Showing OpenAI Alternative Name, Calling Brockman’s Suggestion ‘Nannyish’
In a recent development, billionaire Elon Musk, who was one of the co-founders of OpenAI, has reposted pictures of emails that appear to show exchanges between himself and OpenAI President Greg Brockman from 2015. The emails, which were shared by an X user on Twitter, reveal a disagreement between Musk and Brockman over the naming of OpenAI.
According to the emails, Brockman suggested naming OpenAI “Consider”, but Musk rejected the idea, calling it “nannyish and self-righteous”. Musk instead suggested the name “Open AI-I!”, which he proposed as a nod to the Open AI Institute.
The emails were shared by Musk on Twitter, with the caption “X user shows emails from 2015. Brockman’s suggestion for OpenAI name was ‘Consider’. I rejected it as ‘nannyish and self-righteous'”. The tweet quickly went viral, garnering thousands of likes and comments.
The email exchange, which dates back to 2015, provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of OpenAI. At the time, the organization was still in its infancy, and the naming process was likely a crucial decision for the team.
Musk’s rejection of the name “Consider” is particularly interesting, given his reputation for being a visionary and a pioneer in the tech industry. His criticism of the name as “nannyish and self-righteous” suggests that he may have been concerned about the perceived tone or connotation of the name.
On the other hand, Musk’s suggestion of “Open AI-I!” as an alternative name is intriguing. The use of the “I!” suffix is reminiscent of the “X!” suffix used by Musk’s other company, SpaceX. It’s possible that Musk was trying to create a sense of continuity between the two companies, or perhaps he simply thought the name sounded cool.
The email exchange also highlights the differences in opinion between Musk and Brockman, which may have contributed to Musk’s eventual departure from OpenAI in 2018. At the time, Musk cited creative differences as the reason for his departure, but it’s clear that there were also personality clashes and disagreements over the direction of the organization.
In conclusion, the email exchange between Musk and Brockman provides a unique insight into the early days of OpenAI and the naming process. While the emails may seem trivial, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the personalities and opinions of two influential figures in the tech industry.
