OpenAI hosted a group of influencers as part of its first-ever brand trip, putting them up in luxurious private cabins in the Hudson Valley for a range of activities this past weekend, presumably to prompt them to spread positive vibes about the AI company that owns ChatGPT. Soon after the creators began uploading posts about their getaway, they were met with negative reactions from other social media users accusing them of working with a company that they feel is doing more harm to society than good.These influencers stayed at the high-end resort Wildflower Farms, where private cabins go for over $1,000 a night, and posted aesthetically pleasing photo dumps, sharing snippets of workshops, group dinners, and excursions. USA Today reached out to six
of the creators who attended the trip but did not yet receive a response.
Grace McCarrick, one of the influencers on the trip, who has more than 93,000 Instagram followers, responded to a negative comment left under one of her videos accusing her of "selling her morals." She went on to say, "My morals are not compromised. I am supremely excited about AI and the opportunities it offers to our species. Beyond that, any time there's going to be some vast sweeping change to the way we live, if I have an opportunity to be in the room and hear from the people who are at the helm of that change, I'm going to do that."
One of the other creators who was on this trip, Megan Lieu, who has more than 227,000 Instagram followers, replied to McCarrick's post and wrote, "The comments on my OpenAI trip post on TikTok specifically were all like this. And I was so baffled because I’m with you, I’m moving in the direction of change, not against it."
Other attendees who posted about the trip included business creators Avni Barman and Justyn Berkovits, as well as Sreya Halder, a creator whose content focuses on software and fashion.Social media users began making videos criticizing these creators for attending. Meredith Lynch posted a video on Sunday, saying that the creators' involvement with the ChatGPT brand trip is “deeply disgusting and embarrassing.”
@meredithmlynch #greenscreen this is disgusting grace McCarrick unlike you some@Of us aren’t sell outs
♬ original sound - Meredith Lynch
Imani Barbarin, a content creator and disability advocate who has a master's in global communications, also uploaded a video condemning the trip, saying, “With brand trips, OpenAI is selling a lifestyle.” She continues, “It is selling the life you can have access to, the experiences you can have access to, if you embrace AI and integrate it into your work life, your home life, whatever the case may be.” Barbarin goes on to argue that consumers won’t have access to the same experiences because AI will deplete traditional jobs, and working people will not be able to afford it.
Historically, brand trips are lavish vacations that content creators are invited to take to learn more about a new product or feature a company is preparing to launch, so influencers can share it with their audiences. These extravagant outings have been criticized as tone-deaf, as brands spend tens of thousands of dollars on each influencer they invite (and, in many cases, their plus-ones), while the sharp rise in consumer prices has strained millions of Americans’ wallets.
On top of that, AI companies have been the subject of controversy for many reasons. Their data centers have been linked to air, water, and noise pollution, and critics say they strain power grids across the United States. OpenAI, in particular, was recently put under a microscope after the company reached a deal with the Department of War.
In a statement to USA Today, OpenAI said, "Creators are an important part of our community and how people get information and learn about our products today." It continued, "We welcome healthy debate as AI becomes more prevalent, and we value creators who choose to engage with us, attend our events, ask tough questions, and learn alongside everyone else. We’ll continue to value them, just as we do traditional media and other marketing partners."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ChatGPT hosted a lavish trip for influencers – sparking a backlash
