OpenAI Tightens Restrictions on Probing Its New AI Model ‘Strawberry’

Key Takeaways

OpenAI is taking a strong stance against users attempting to dig into the inner workings of its new AI model family, Strawberry, particularly the o1 model. As researchers and AI enthusiasts try to figure out how the model’s reasoning works, OpenAI is responding with warnings and potential bans for violating its rules.

Curiosity Around Strawberry’s Reasoning

The o1-preview and o1-mini models in the Strawberry family are said to have advanced reasoning abilities, sparking a lot of interest in the AI community. Users are eager to understand the “chain of thought” behind how these models solve problems, but OpenAI is keeping those deeper processes under wraps.

While users can see a simplified version of how the AI reaches its conclusions, the raw reasoning data is hidden. OpenAI says this is necessary for internal monitoring and to maintain a competitive edge. Some users, however, are trying to bypass these restrictions, which has led to a wave of jailbreak attempts aimed at exposing the AI’s full reasoning process.

OpenAI’s Response to Probing Attempts

OpenAI is taking these attempts seriously. Users who try to break through the model’s safeguards are receiving warnings, and in some cases, OpenAI has threatened to ban users from the platform. For example, well-known AI prompt engineer Riley Goodside and other researchers have reported receiving warning emails for using terms like “reasoning trace” when interacting with the model.

These warnings stress that trying to bypass OpenAI’s safeguards is a violation of their Terms of Use. OpenAI is urging users to stop any activities designed to reveal the model’s hidden reasoning.

Frustration from Researchers

Some researchers are frustrated by these restrictions. Marco Figueroa, manager of Mozilla’s GenAI bug bounty program, expressed his disappointment on social media after receiving a warning for probing the model. He argues that these limitations make it difficult to conduct important safety research.

The Strategy Behind Keeping AI Reasoning Hidden

OpenAI’s decision to hide the raw reasoning behind its models is seen as a strategic move to protect its intellectual property. The company acknowledges the drawbacks of keeping this information secret but argues that revealing it could help competitors build similar models using OpenAI’s proprietary reasoning data.

Independent AI researcher Simon Willison supports this viewpoint, noting that sharing too much of the model’s internal processes could put OpenAI at a competitive disadvantage.

As the demand for advanced AI tools continues to grow, OpenAI is under increasing commercial pressure. However, the company remains firm in controlling how its AI models are probed, balancing safety concerns and the need to protect its technological innovations from competitors.