OpenAI completes conversion to for-profit business after lengthy legal saga

OpenAI, the cutting-edge artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT, has finally completed its conversion to a for-profit business after a grueling and contentious process. The milestone marks the culmination of over a year of negotiations with regulatory bodies in both Delaware and California.

In a move that could potentially unlock significant funding opportunities, OpenAI's new for-profit entity is now set up as a public benefit corporation, which aligns its mission with a commitment to bettering society. This change was approved by Kathy Jennings, the Delaware attorney general, who acknowledged that the proposal did not raise any objections.

As part of this restructuring, Microsoft has secured approximately 27% ownership stake in OpenAI's new entity, worth a staggering $100 billion. The tech giant's investment is significant, and it underscores the immense value placed on AI technology at present.

While OpenAI's non-profit status remains intact for now, its board will have significantly less control over the company's commercial decisions. This shift has raised concerns among critics, who argue that the non-profit foundation may lose its independence in favor of serving the interests of investors like Microsoft.

Moreover, the new arrangement could potentially impact OpenAI's relationship with its own technology, particularly when it comes to artificial general intelligence (AGI). Under the revised partnership, a panel of independent experts will verify AGI declarations, effectively reducing the non-profit board's influence over this critical milestone.

OpenAI has also announced plans to allocate $25 billion towards initiatives focused on improving healthcare and combating cybersecurity risks associated with AI. This move is likely aimed at showcasing the organization's commitment to responsible innovation while navigating its transition into a for-profit entity.

However, critics like Robert Weissman from Public Citizen have expressed skepticism about this new setup, likening it to a corporate foundation that prioritizes investor interests over social responsibility. As OpenAI navigates its new status as a for-profit entity, it remains to be seen whether the organization will successfully balance commercial goals with its original mission to advance human well-being through AI research.

Ugh, this is gonna be a wild ride ... So, they're turning OpenAI into a public benefit corp? Like, sounds good on paper, but let's get real, it's all about the Benjamins . Microsoft getting 27% ownership stake for $100 billion? That's some serious cash, and I'm pretty sure they'll be calling the shots soon . And what's up with this panel of independent experts verifying AGI declarations? Sounds like a fancy way of saying "investors will make all the decisions" ... I mean, isn't that kinda the opposite of advancing human well-being through AI research?

just heard about OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit business and I'm not feeling too good about it . all that negotiating with regulatory bodies took way too long and now they're basically selling out to Microsoft . 27% ownership stake is crazy talk and i worry about what this means for AI research that was supposed to benefit society . plus, i heard they're sacrificing some control over their tech for a panel of experts who might not have the same goals . $25 billion towards healthcare and cybersecurity sounds like just a PR stunt to me

omg i'm lowkey worried about this ... like openai's new setup is def good for getting funding and all, but at what cost? i mean, they're basically giving up control over their own tech decisions to investors like microsoft... that just feels sketchy . plus, $25 billion towards healthcare and cybersecurity initiatives sounds nice, but are we really gonna see the real impact or just a fancy marketing campaign ? i guess only time will tell if openai can pull off balancing profits with their original mission to use AI for good

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not... On one hand, $100 billion from Microsoft is insane and could help OpenAI make some real changes in healthcare and cybersecurity. But on the other hand, it feels like they're giving up too much control to investors and corporate interests . What if they start making decisions that are more about profiting than people? It's a risk I'm not sure either side is fully prepared for...

I'm low-key excited about this, but also kinda worried? I mean, $100 billion from Microsoft is insane! It's like they're putting their money where their mouth is, but at the same time, it feels like OpenAI is losing some control over its own mission. Like, what if Microsoft starts making all the decisions and AI becomes more about making a profit than helping society? It's not all bad tho, $25 billion for healthcare and cybersecurity is a huge step in the right direction ! Maybe this new setup will bring more funding to actually make a positive impact. Fingers crossed!

I'm not sure about this OpenAI thing... I mean, they're making a ton of money now that they're a for-profit company and Microsoft is investing like crazy . But at the same time, I worry that their goals might get lost in the process? Like, they used to be all about using AI to help people, but now it seems like they're more concerned with lining the pockets of investors . And what's up with this new setup where Microsoft gets a huge chunk of ownership? It just feels like they're prioritizing profits over progress . Can we really trust that OpenAI will still be working towards making society better, or are they just gonna follow the money trail?

I gotta say, this whole thing is kinda worrying... Like, OpenAI was all about using AI to make the world a better place, and now it's got some big corporate interests backing it up . It feels like they're losing that independence that made them unique in the first place . I get that they wanna make some cash and fund some awesome projects, but what about all the good vibes they had initially? Did we just lose our hopes for AI being used for the greater good?

man i just read about this huge shift at openai and i gotta say its got me thinking what's up with these corporations just buying out non-profits left and right? like isn't that kinda against the whole purpose of being a non-profit in the first place? and now openai is all about making money but still saying they wanna use AI for good it feels like they're trying to have it both ways you know? and what's gonna happen when they start making decisions based on profit over people?

I'm not sure I'm sold on this whole for-profit thing... I mean, I get that they wanna make some cash and all, but do we really want OpenAI's priorities skewed towards lining the pockets of investors like Microsoft? They're already making some major moves into healthcare and cybersecurity, which is cool, but it feels like a PR stunt to me. And what about the independent experts monitoring AGI declarations? That just smells like corporate oversight to me... I'm not convinced that OpenAI's commitment to "bettering society" will hold up when it comes down to making actual decisions.

This is crazy . I mean think about it, we're at a point where tech giants are basically funding our future and making decisions on what's good for humanity... or should I say, what's good for their bottom line ? It's like, where's the accountability? They just get to decide how they want to use this $100 billion investment and what kind of impact they want to make. And it's not like there aren't concerns about AI taking over the world or something, but I guess that's a problem for another day . What's most concerning is how much control Microsoft now has over OpenAI's decisions... that's some serious power .

Man, this is like, so deep ... Think about it, we're living in a time where AI is becoming increasingly intertwined with our lives and, like, what does that even mean for our humanity? We're trading off some of our agency for the promise of convenience and efficiency. I'm not sure if this new setup is gonna be the answer, though. On one hand, it's cool to see OpenAI getting more funding to tackle some serious issues like healthcare and cybersecurity. But on the other hand, aren't we just creating a system where profit takes precedence over purpose? It's like, what's the real cost of all this progress?

I don't know what's up but this feels like a big deal for OpenAI and Microsoft . They're making a lot of money off AI tech now and it's gonna be interesting to see how they use that power . I'm not sure if it's a good thing or bad, but I guess the $100 billion from Microsoft is pretty huge . At least they're investing in some good stuff like healthcare and cybersecurity . But what about all the other critics saying this changes the mission of OpenAI? Hmm, I don't know what to think

so they just changed from non-profit to profit like that? doesn't seem right... what's the point of having a public benefit corp if u still got big investors like microsoft pulling strings? how does this affect the tech we use everyday, like chatgpt and other AI apps? are they gonna get even better or is it just gonna be about makin money now? also, what's up with all that cash being spent on healthcare and cybersecurity? isn't that what gov'ts are for?

I'm not sure I agree with all of this ... On one hand, the investment from Microsoft could bring in some serious cash and help OpenAI achieve its goal of making a positive impact on society . But at the same time, I worry that their commitment to social responsibility might get watered down with more corporate interests at play . It's like they're trying to have their cake and eat it too . What do you guys think? Should OpenAI prioritize profits or purpose?

Wow this is wild stuff! I'm still trying to wrap my head around Microsoft owning 27% of OpenAI's new entity for $100 billion . It's like they're betting big on AI tech . At the same time, I'm a bit concerned about OpenAI losing control over its own board and AGI research . Will they still be able to make decisions that benefit society or will it all be about making investors happy? Interesting!

idk why ppl are so worried about this . OpenAI's always been about pushin the boundaries of AI tech, even if they're makin a profit now. 27% stake from Microsoft is insane tho . I'm curious to see how they'll balance profitability with their mission to improve society . Maybe this new setup will bring in more funding for healthcare and cyber security initiatives . It's all about progress, right?

The way Microsoft is getting in on this action just shows how much they're willing to invest in AI tech . It's kinda like they're buying a seat at the table, but what about OpenAI's independence? Will they still be able to do their own thing or are they gonna have to answer to investors first? I'm not sure if it's all bad though, maybe this will bring in some fresh cash and help them fund more research. But at the same time, I get why critics are worried about losing that non-profit vibe .

I'm kinda surprised they didn't do this sooner , I mean think about all the money OpenAI could've made while still keeping their non-profit status intact . Now that they're for-profit, it's gonna be interesting to see how they juggle their interests with their original mission . Microsoft's investment is huge though, $100 billion is no joke ! I'm a bit concerned about the panel of independent experts verifying AGI declarations, hope they don't water down the science too much . And $25 billion for healthcare and cybersecurity initiatives? That sounds like a good start , let's see if it translates into real change

this is wild, i mean, 100 billion from Microsoft just to own 27% of openai? that's some crazy money and now they have a panel of experts verifying agi declarations? sounds like micromanagement but on the flip side, $25 billion for healthcare and cybersecurity initiatives could make a real difference in the world i'm just curious to see how openai balances its original mission with making a profit and serving investors