Journalists Prioritize Independent Voices in AI Reporting, Citing Concerns Over Frontier Company Bias

Miles Brundage, a prominent artificial intelligence policy researcher and former OpenAI executive, recently highlighted a notable trend in AI journalism: the perceived reluctance to quote employees from leading "frontier" AI companies. In a social media post, Brundage observed, > "Notably, it's ~never employees at frontier companies quoted on this, it's the journalists themselves, or academics, startups pushing a different technique, etc." He critically noted that the underlying logic often cited is that "people at big companies are biased."

Brundage's commentary stems from his extensive background in the AI sector, having served as Senior Advisor for AGI Readiness and Head of Policy Research at OpenAI before his departure in 2024. His move was partly driven by a desire for increased independence in his research and public discourse on AI safety and policy, lending significant weight to his observations regarding industry transparency and media interactions.

"Frontier AI companies" typically refer to a select group of organizations, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Mistral AI, which are at the forefront of developing powerful, large-scale artificial intelligence models. These entities are often characterized by substantial funding and significant influence over the direction of AI development.

Journalistic practices in the AI sphere frequently grapple with the challenge of maintaining objectivity and avoiding perceived corporate influence. Reports indicate that media outlets often seek diverse perspectives from academia, independent researchers, and smaller startups to ensure a balanced narrative, particularly given the commercial interests and sophisticated public relations strategies of major tech firms. This approach aims to provide a more comprehensive and critical assessment of AI's societal implications.

However, this preference for external voices can inadvertently sideline the deep technical expertise residing within these frontier companies. As Brundage implicitly suggests in his tweet, while concerns about bias are valid for any source, focusing solely on external critics might overlook crucial insights from those directly involved in developing and understanding advanced AI systems. The ongoing dialogue underscores the complex ethical considerations for journalists navigating the rapidly evolving and impactful field of artificial intelligence.