“OpenAI Not Expected to Offer Microsoft, Other Investors Seats on New Board: Report”, 2023-11-29 ():
ChatGPT creator OpenAI will reportedly deny seats on its overhauled board of directors to key backers like Microsoft, Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures—despite causing investor fury with the surprise firing and eventual return of CEO Sam Altman this month.
…Despite the recent turmoil, the outside investors are unlikely to have representatives on what is expected to be a 9-member board at the leading AI firm, The Information reported, citing a person familiar with the situation. [The original OpenAI bylaws set a maximum of 7 board members; there is no mention of changes to the bylaws & Microsoft is getting 1 observer, suggesting that the +2 members are 2 observers, 1 for MS & 1 for the other VCs.]
If it holds, the decision suggests that the nonprofit will “prioritize safety practices ahead of investor returns”, the outlet added.
…Ahead of Altman’s return, Satya Nadella warned on CNBC that OpenAI’s bizarre leadership structure was in need of an overhaul. “At this point, I think it’s very clear that something has to change around the governance”, Nadella said.
Investor Vinod Khosla had also blasted OpenAI’s previous board in a column for The Information, accusing its members of making a “grave miscalculation” that had “set back the promise of artificial intelligence.”