OpenAI's chief scientist wants to slow down | E30

<p>This Week In Startups is made possible by:</p><p><u>PayPal - Pay zero processing fees on your first $100K in eligible PayPal payment volume. Learn more at</u><a href="http://paypal.launch.co"><u> </u>paypal.launch.co</a></p><p><strong>Today’s show:</strong></p><p>OpenAI&#39;s chief scientist wrote a lengthy manifesto arguing that no lab has solved alignment, mere days after GPT-6 Astra shipped. Jason and Lon are joined by Tudor Achim of Harmonic, Alex Elias of Qloo, and Ahmed Ahres of Reactor to figure out if that&#39;s genuine alarm being expressed or just another pre-IPO sales pitch and play for regulatory capture.</p><p>Plus news broke while we were recording! OpenAI is claiming to have solved a second Millennium Prize problem, after a 25-year-plus weight. AND, who is paying influencers to tell you AI is wonderful/harmful? And why?</p><p><strong>Guests:</strong></p><p>Tudor Achim on X:<a href="https://x.com/tachim"> <u>https://x.com/tachim</u></a></p><p>Harmonic:<a href="https://harmonic.fun/"> <u>https://harmonic.fun/</u></a></p><p>Alex Elias on X:<a href="https://x.com/ape"> <u>https://x.com/ape</u></a></p><p>Qloo:<a href="https://www.qloo.com/"> <u>https://www.qloo.com/</u></a></p><p>Ahmed Ahres on X:<a href="https://x.com/Boudatw"> <u>https://x.com/Boudatw</u></a></p><p>Reactor:<a href="https://reactor.inc/"> <u>https://reactor.inc/</u></a></p><p><strong>Relevant Links:</strong></p><p>Jakub Pachocki, &quot;An Alien Mind&quot; —<a href="https://openai.com/index/an-alien-mind/"> <u>https://openai.com/index/an-alien-mind/</u></a></p><p>GPT-6 Astra —<a href="https://fortune.com/2026/09/03/openai-debuts-gpt-6-astra-computer-use-greg-brockman-says-start-of-agi/"> <u>https://fortune.com/2026/09/03/openai-debuts-gpt-6-astra-computer-use-greg-brockman-says-start-of-agi/</u></a></p><p>OpenAI: &quot;On the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem&quot; —<a href="https://openai.com/index/navier-stokes-solution/"> <u>https://openai.com/index/navier-stokes-solution/</u></a></p><p>ControlAI — the nonprofit that sponsored the SciShow episode —<a href="https://controlai.org/"> <u>https://controlai.org/</u></a></p><p>New York Times (Eli Tan), &quot;Corporate America Is Getting Hooked on Open-Source A.I.&quot; —<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/technology/open-source-ai-companies.html"> <u>https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/technology/open-source-ai-companies.html</u></a></p><p>Artificial trailer and the cast →<a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/artificial-trailer-andrew-garfield-openai-biopic-1236802616/"> <u>https://variety.com/2026/film/news/artificial-trailer-andrew-garfield-openai-biopic-1236802616/</u></a></p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>0:00 &quot;An Alien Mind&quot;</p><p>3:08 AI psychosis, marketing, or half a mile ahead on the racetrack?</p><p>12:52 The Manhattan Project analogy</p><p>15:20 Tudor: if it&#39;s really that dangerous, the answer is nationalization</p><p>17:02 Regulatory capture: Bill Gurley at All-In, Sacks, and who can afford to be regulated</p><p>20:37 The influencer propaganda tape</p><p>23:22 BREAKING: OpenAI solves the Navier-Stokes Millennium Prize problem</p><p>28:53 The Hank Green / SciShow video sponsored by ControlAI</p><p>32:11 Fogging and flooding</p><p>46:47 UBS will require AI skills from its 2027 graduate</p><p>56:41 How LAUNCH hired its associates-in-training</p><p>57:18 NYT: Corporate America is getting hooked on open-source AI</p><p>1:04:16 Alex on Qloo&#39;s shift from NYT film critics on payroll to small specialized models</p><p>1:09:35 First look: the &quot;Artificial&quot; teaser trailer</p><p>1:14:34 Sam Altman&#39;s bunker, Peter Thiel, and casting rundown</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter:<a href="https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com"> <u>https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com</u></a></p><p>Check out the TWIST500:<a href="https://www.twist500.com"> <u>https://www.twist500.com</u></a></p><p>Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple:<a href="h