Microsoft, Apple Step Down from OpenAI Board As Scrutiny Grows

As an analyst with a background in technology regulation, I’m concerned about the recent decision by Microsoft and Apple to withdraw from their planned board roles at OpenAI amid growing regulatory scrutiny. The regulatory pressure on Big Tech’s influence over artificial intelligence is a reflection of wider concerns about the concentration of AI innovation within a small number of large tech firms.


Microsoft Corporation and Apple Inc. chose to relinquish their intended positions on the board of OpenAI due to intensifying regulatory examination into Big Tech’s control over artificial intelligence.

Microsoft, with an investment of $13 billion in OpenAI, recently stepped down from its non-voting observer position due to growing trust in the organization’s leadership and recent progress. Apple, initially intending to assume a similar role, has decided against it following Microsoft’s departure.

US and European regulatory bodies have expressed concerns about the dominance of tech giants such as Microsoft in the field of AI advancement. Microsoft, like other prominent IT companies in the US, has integrated OpenAI’s services into its Windows and Copilot AI platforms, relying on this new technology to fuel growth.

As an analyst at Microsoft, I can express our newfound conviction in OpenAI’s progress based on observable advancements from their recent restructuring. Consequently, we no longer feel the need to merely observe from the sidelines.

Microsoft is facing growing scrutiny over its alleged leadership in artificial intelligence technology. Independent investigations by the US authorities are underway, examining if Microsoft complied with antitrust regulations regarding its acquisition of Inflection AI and the reasons behind its significant presence in the AI industry.

European regulatory bodies have indicated they will probe Microsoft’s rivals over OpenAI’s exclusive usage of their technology, while the UK competition authority ponders a deeper investigation into the partnership.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that regulatory pressure in the industry is a reflection of broader concerns about the dominance of a few large tech companies in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. The recent $4 billion partnership between Amazon and AI startup Anthropic has raised eyebrows in the UK, adding to existing worries over Nvidia’s monopolistic position in the AI chip market.

As an analyst, I’ve noticed a significant investment trend among major U.S. tech companies such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Amazon in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This has raised regulatory concerns due to the potential for concentrated access to advanced technologies. For instance, Apple has formed a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iPhones, while Microsoft has hired Mustafa Suleyman from Inflection AI. These non-financial agreements underscore the growing importance of AI in their respective business strategies.

I, as an observer, would express that OpenAI acknowledges Microsoft’s faith in its board and business strategy. Moreover, we intend to hold routine engagements with our valued partners such as Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures to strengthen our partnership and focus on advancing safety and security measures together.

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2024-07-10 18:44