[kordlessagain]

Let's analyze these specific emails for manipulation patterns while being clear we're doing so to understand and prevent harm, not to learn manipulation:

Key manipulative behaviors shown in the emails:

1. Using artificial urgency to force decisions: "Deepmind is going to give everyone massive counteroffers tomorrow to try to kill it"

2. Changing narratives to maintain control: Sam Altman's reasons for wanting CEO title kept shifting according to Greg/Ilya

3. Information control and selective disclosure: Sam being "bothered by how much Greg and Ilya keep the whole team in the loop"

4. Creating dependency through resource control: Elon using funding as leverage - "I will no longer fund OpenAI until..."

5. Double binds and no-win situations: Team had to choose between losing funding or accepting control terms

6. Triangulation between parties: Playing Greg/Ilya against Sam, Sam against Elon, etc.

The patterns use control, artificial urgency, shifting narratives, and manipulation of relationships to maintain power.

[d0mine]

Someone thought they were funding a non-profit instead they gave money to a [trillion $ unicorn] startup for free. Foolish.

[simonswords82]

Yea. It’s called social dynamics and plays out in pretty much any situation.

Please don’t think I’m a fan of the people at play here, I’m not. But it’s pretty standard stuff.

[randomlurking]

I‘d call this politics instead of social dynamics and argue that its importance differs across companies, but generally. I’d agree though that I also don’t find this out of the norm (in those specific circumstances)