Senator Fetterman Questions OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
During a recent Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was among the last to question OpenAI Chief Sam Altman. The discussion touched on various topics, including Three Mile Island and Carhartt’s outerwear.
Fetterman noted that, as a senator, he meets individuals with impressive careers and remarked on Altman’s skills, saying they highlight the adaptability of humans. He voiced concerns that many Americans feel uneasy about artificial intelligence, urging Altman and his peers to address these worries.
In response, Altman expressed gratitude for Fetterman’s kind words.
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Altman noted his excitement about progress in AI but also stressed a cautious view. He indicated that the current AI landscape is part of a significant technological revolution, something that, perhaps, is beyond complete understanding.
Fetterman also sought insights from Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith regarding the increase in data centers and the potential rise in utility costs for residents in Pennsylvania and beyond. He emphasized that energy security is, in his view, a matter of national security and highlighted the balance between renewable energy and fossil fuels.
The senator expressed worries that while data center construction may create jobs, those positions are often temporary. He reminisced about his attempts to revive nuclear reactors at the infamous Three Mile Island decades ago, discussing how carbon neutrality efforts can align with data centers.
Fetterman shared a personal anecdote about being evacuated during the 1979 meltdown, stating, “You might assume I’m anti-nuclear, but I actually support nuclear energy as it plays a vital role in addressing climate change.”
He urged that power agreements should guarantee no increase in electricity rates for Pennsylvania families, prompting Smith’s assurance that Microsoft’s plans for the data centers take local utility needs into account.
Smith reassured Fetterman that Microsoft intends to manage its electricity consumption to prevent any rise in local electricity prices.
