OpenAI May Transition to Unrestricted For-Profit, Says CEO Sam Altman

As an experienced analyst, I believe that OpenAI’s decision to explore transitioning from a capped-profit corporation to an unrestricted for-profit one is a significant shift in the company’s direction. While the intention behind this move was initially to promote research in artificial general intelligence (AGI) while keeping the company’s goal, it now seems that the need for additional funding and stakeholder rewards played a major role in this decision.


OpenAI, a well-known AI company, is reportedly considering shifting its business model from a profit cap to unlimited profit generation.

Based on The Information’s report, Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, notified shareholders around June 10 about his intention to take significant steps that could potentially lead to the non-profit board relinquishing control over the corporation.

On its website, OpenAI is described as having a private valuation of approximately $86 billion, with its organizational framework consisting of a collaboration between its initial non-profit entity and a newly established for-profit division.

The aim behind implementing “capped profits” on the same website was to foster research in the area of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), without deviating from the company’s primary objective.

Based on OpenAI’s report, the funds collected weren’t enough to finish the projects, leading them to adopt a fresh financing method to compensate investors. Nonetheless, the site continues to advise investors to view their contributions as charitable donations.

As a crypto investor, I’d caution you against viewing an investment in OpenAI Global, LLC as a traditional financial asset. The risks are significant, and there’s a real possibility of losing your entire capital contribution with little to no return. It’s essential to approach this investment as more of a philanthropic endeavor. In the future post-Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), it might be challenging to predict how our financial contributions will influence the course of events.

CEO Sam Altman is spearheading an effort to overhaul the company’s operations. In this endeavor, he has recently reshaped the board by inviting himself and three new appointees: Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former head of the Gates Foundation; Nicole Seligman, a former executive at Sony; and Fidji Simo, current CEO of Instacart.

Retired US Army General Paul Nakasone, who previously led the National Security Agency, has more recently been named to the board. This news sparked strong opposition from Edward Snowden, a former intelligence contractor for the United States.

As a concerned crypto investor and privacy advocate, I cannot stress enough my disagreement with Snowden’s stern warning regarding OpenAI and its flagship product, ChatGPT. He vehemently urged, “I strongly advise against trusting OpenAI or its offerings,” going as far as accusing the appointment of an NSAGov Director to the board as a “prudent deception of everyone’s privacy rights.” In essence, Snowden’s message was clear: “Heed this warning.”

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2024-06-15 21:25