OpenAI May Not Offer Board Seat To Microsoft, Others

OpenAI, the proprietor of ChatGPT, is anticipated to exclude Microsoft (MSFT.O) and other investors such as Khosla Ventures and Thrive Capital from seats on its newly constituted board, according to an insider disclosed to Reuters on Tuesday.

In a series of tumultuous events last week, OpenAI removed its CEO and founder, Sam Altman, without providing explicit reasons, triggering concerns among investors and staff. Altman was subsequently reinstated, accompanied by the assurance of a revamped board. Altman’s abrupt departure raised uncertainties about the trajectory of the startup at the epicentre of the artificial intelligence surge.

“I cannot confirm that OpenAI will opt to exclude Microsoft from the board,” commented Thomas Hayes, the chairman of hedge fund Great Hill Capital. He emphasised that Microsoft, a major financial supporter with significant investments exceeding $10 billion, would likely have a say in the matter. Hayes added that it would not be in Microsoft’s interest “to remain passive.” The initial report by The Information indicated that OpenAI is planning for a nine-member board.

The first three directors slated for the new board — Chair Bret Taylor, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo — are expected to receive confirmation as early as this week, as per the report. D’Angelo would be the sole surviving director from the previous six-person board that terminated Altman.

Microsoft, a substantial backer of OpenAI and the operator of ChatGPT, its widely adopted generative AI chatbot, has expressed the need for governance changes at OpenAI. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, previously mentioned to CNBC that alterations in governance were imperative for ChatGPT, regardless of Altman’s ultimate position.

ALSO READ: From Exit To Re-entry: A Quick Timeline Of Sam Altman’s Sudden Ousting & Surprising Reinstatement As OpenAI CEO

In anticipation of the imminent removal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over a four-day period, a group of staff researchers at the organisation issued a letter to the board of directors expressing concerns about a notable artificial intelligence (AI) advancement. Citing information from two undisclosed sources, a Reuters report highlights the researchers’ belief that this AI breakthrough could pose a potential threat to humanity. The report indicates that the letter and the revelation of the AI algorithm played a significant role in the board’s decision to oust Altman, a well-known figure in the field of generative AI.

The concerns raised in the letter, including apprehensions about the commercialisation of advancements without a full understanding of their consequences, are identified as part of a larger set of issues contributing to Altman’s dismissal, according to the sources. Reuters states that it was unable to obtain a copy of the letter, and attempts to seek comments from the staff members who authored it went unanswered.

Several individuals within OpenAI have suggested that Q* (pronounced Q-Star) could mark a breakthrough in the organisation’s pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), as reported by one source mentioned in the article. OpenAI defines AGI as autonomous systems capable of surpassing human performance in a wide range of economically valuable tasks.

When questioned about the OpenAI board, a Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters, “We will wait until the board officially says something.”