Helen Toner Interview: AI CEOs Can't Be Trusted and Safety Governance
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On November 14, 2026, The Verge's Decoder show published an interview with Helen Toner, former OpenAI board member and Director of Georgetown University's CSET. Toner said AI safety should not be entrusted to any single 'trustworthy CEO,' arguing that AI company CEOs cannot be trusted. She was one of four OpenAI board members who voted to remove Sam Altman in 2023; that accountability effort ultimately ended with Altman returning as CEO and her own resignation. In the interview, she also discussed whether the alignment problem can be solved, more sensible approaches to AI regulation, and issues related to China. The event is currently limited to the publication of the interview and the spread of her views, with no reports of further developments.
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- The Verge · AIThe OpenAI board member who fired Sam Altman says we still can’t trust AI CEOs
Helen Toner, former OpenAI board member and executive director of Georgetown's CSET, said in a Decoder interview that AI safety should not be entrusted to any single trustworthy CEO. She was one of four directors who voted to remove Sam Altman; that accountability effort ended with Altman's return and her resignation. She also discussed whether the alignment problem can be solved, more sensible approaches to regulation, and China-related issues.
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