OpenAI, co-founded by Sam Altman, is exploring a shift from its nonprofit roots to a for-profit public benefit corporation. This change aims to attract more investors and boost its valuation, currently around $150 billion.
The board's potential restructuring would allow OpenAI to operate with greater corporate freedom while still considering societal impacts. This hybrid model has already been adopted by competitors like xAI and Anthropic.
Critics, including co-founder Elon Musk, have expressed concerns about the departure from OpenAI's original mission of ethical AI development. Musk labeled the company as a 'maximum-profit AI' organization, diverging from its foundational ideals.
While the timeline for restructuring is unclear, OpenAI's nonprofit will maintain a minority stake in the new for-profit entity, raising questions about its governance and commitment to transparency in AI development.