OpenAI: Is it a Charity? OpenAI is a Non-Profit for the Development of Safe Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector
Later, around the time Musk was working to acquire Twitter, he texted Altman that he was “disturbed” to see the company’s new $20 billion valuation. It’s not a question of whether or not. The disclosed text shows that he provided almost all the seed and most of the B round funding. “This is a bait and switch.”
While Musk said he just needed to accumulate $80B for a city on Mars, he tried to maneuver himself into the CEO position and gain majority control. Musk also proposed that OpenAI spin into Tesla, which has been previously revealed. Musk left the company when the negotiations fell apart because he was afraid of a power struggle.
Openai’s proposed conversion doesn’t just represent a future, potential abuse of corporate form. We would also urge you to examine whether OpenAI’s past practices are consistent with its obligations as a non-profit – most notably whether it has inappropriately depleted the assets of the non-profit by distributing assets to third-party entities.
We know that Musk and other people want to represent public interests in the case. Although we would urge your office to do something, we believe that Mr Musk and Ms. Zilis are the best choice for representation of Californians in this matter. Their early, foundational roles in OpenAI’s creation and operations and as prior members of its Board position them to understand better than anyone what OpenAI was intended to be and how its current conduct deviates from its charitable mission.
Meta believes in open and transparent practices in the field of artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s charitable promise to develop safe and broadly beneficial AI free from commercial pressures is an important one, and it should be kept. Given the breakneck speed at which OpenAI is continuing its for-profit conversion, this is a special case with an urgent necessity for action.
Openai decided to pursue this project through private means, as they saw no path to follow in the public sector and success of similar projects in private industry. A 501(c)(3) is believed to be the most effective vehicle to direct the development of safe and broadly beneficial AGI while remaining free of profit incentives.
The purpose of the corporation is to be a nonprofit that is only for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The specific purpose of this corporation is to provide funding for research, development and distribution of technology related to artificial intelligence… The corporation is not organized for the private gain of any person… This corporation’s property and net income are dedicated to the purposes of that corporation, and no part of that income or assets will ever be used for the benefit of a director, officer or member.
