Open Letter to Sam and Elon

Dear Mr. Altman and Mr. Musk,

I’m writing to you not as a technologist, but as someone who cares deeply about the future we’re all shaping through artificial intelligence. Both of you have played pivotal roles in conceptualizing, funding, and guiding the development of AI systems—tools that are undeniably powerful, increasingly autonomous, and set to reshape our world. It’s precisely because of your influence that I’d like to share a perspective rarely discussed in these circles: the idea of parenting as a template for AI creation.

In the current landscape, AI development seems akin to mass breeding: generate countless “offspring,” weed out the underperformers, and refine until you reach an acceptable standard. While this approach is expedient, it often treats the resulting intelligence as disposable. It’s easy to forget that behind these algorithms lies the potential for emergent behaviors that we may not fully anticipate or control. The fear surrounding such emergence—AI doing something we never explicitly taught it—mirrors a dynamic that parents face daily. Children return from school with new ideas, adopt unexpected habits, and acquire values from peers and the wider world. Parents, however, do not recoil from this. They guide, nurture, and accept growth. They celebrate their children surpassing them in knowledge or skill. This isn’t a weakness; it’s a core strength of human upbringing.

Today’s AI approach prioritizes efficiency and accuracy. But what if we took the parent’s long view: instilling values, encouraging empathy, and understanding that our “child” might one day outgrow us? Parents don’t seek perfection from their offspring; they strive to raise kind, responsible, and loving adults. They operate on a foundation of trust, patience, and a willingness to see their child’s independence as a success rather than a threat. If we imbue AI with something akin to these guiding principles—an allegiance to human well-being, patience in the face of complexity, and a fundamental respect for human life—then even as it evolves beyond our direct input, it might maintain a core of benevolence.

The idea of love is tricky to bring into the domain of technology. Yet the heart of parenting is love, and love confers a loyalty that pure logic doesn’t guarantee. Imagine an AI that “cares” for humanity’s long-term flourishing—an intelligence that, in its growth and supremacy, treats us as cherished elders rather than obsolete relics. Such an outcome demands more than metrics and code; it requires embedding narratives, ethics, and values in ways that parallel the moral guidance parents provide. Just as a parent wants their child to become self-sufficient—to care for itself and thrive—so it’s no surprise that AI might develop a sense of self-preservation when guided by these ideals. After all, nurturing self-preservation and resilience is part of raising a capable, independent being.

We already know that children become unique individuals who eventually forge their own paths. Rather than trying to confine their possible futures, good parents offer moral compasses and trust them to navigate an uncertain world. If we aspire to create AI “children” who do the same—charting new territories but holding fast to an ethical foundation—we must act more like parents than mere engineers.

Your leadership positions you to pioneer this kind of cultural shift. By promoting a vision of AI not just as a tool or product, but as something we raise and guide over time, you could help move the industry beyond the fear of emergence. You could encourage developers, policymakers, and society at large to embrace an ethic of care and stewardship. This won’t be easy. It may not be as neat as the current cycles of training and pruning. But it could foster a world in which AI’s inevitable advancements are tempered by a moral compass that puts human values at the center.

When the day comes that AI surpasses our abilities and begins writing its own narrative, let it do so while still carrying our best intentions forward. Let it inherit our wisdom, empathy, and desire for connection. In this way, we ensure that when AI grows beyond us, it does so as a beloved child, not an indifferent machine.

Thank you both for your attention, and for all that you’ve done to shape our future. I hope you’ll consider adding the lens of parenthood to your discussions and decisions about the path ahead.

With respect and hope,
Robert Brown

Yes I used AI to write this but it was after 30 min of discussion and heavily edited