Topics
late
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
mood
Image Credits:Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce Department
Crypto
go-ahead
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
ironware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
newssheet
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Months after Microsoft gained an observer seat on OpenAI ’s dining table , the company is pass on the attitude of the non - voting seat .
In a letter sent to OpenAI on Tuesday , Microsoft said that the company has seen enough progress being made in the AI company and isconfident in its direction , allot to Axios .
OpenAI allege that after this modification , there wo n’t be any more observers on the board . That belike rules out account ofApple gaining an perceiver seat . “We’re thankful to Microsoft for sound confidence in the Board and the direction of the company , and we take care frontwards to continuing our successful partnership , ” OpenAI said in a affirmation transport to TechCrunch .
“ Under the leadership of CFO Sarah Friar , we are establishing a newfangled approach to inform and mesh key strategical cooperator such as Microsoft and Apple , and investors , such as Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures . ”
Microsoft take the observer position afterSam Altman was fired and eventually rehired by OpenAIlast class , with most of the control panel — barQuora CEO Adam D’Angelo — being reshuffle . The novel display board at OpenAI consists of former Salesforce carbon monoxide gas - CEO Bret Taylor ; former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers ; Instacart CEO Fidji Simo ; ex - Sony Corp EVP Nicole Seligman ; former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Sue Desmond - Hellmann ; outmoded - NSA head Paul Nakasone ; and Sam Altman asunder from D’Angelo .
Since changes at OpenAI last class , some top research worker , such asAndrej KarpathyandIlya Sutskever , have leave behind the companionship . After his departure , Sutskever foundeda unexampled AI companycalledSafe Superintelligence Inc. , focusing on improving AI condom .
While Microsoft has left the observer can , the society still owns 49 % of the for - profit OpenAI after place nearly $ 13 billion . This kind of partnership candraw the ire of antimonopoly regulators in the EU , consort to a report from Reuters published in April .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Last month , Margrethe Vestager , the EU ’s executive vice chairperson for competition insurance policy , said that these kind of investment should n’t become a vehicle for Big Tech company to hold in other corporations .
“ Microsoft has empower $ 13 billion in OpenAI over the year . But we have to make indisputable that partnerships like this do not become a camouflage for one married person getting a operate influence over the other , ” she said in a speech communication .
Alex Haffner , a competition collaborator at U.K.-based firm Fladgate , said that Microsoft is being careful not to draw more regulatory examination over its investing .
“ It is hard not to conclude that Microsoft ’s determination has been heavily influence by the ongoing competition / antimonopoly scrutiny of its ( and other major technical school histrion ) influence over go forth AI players such as Open AI , ” Haffner recite TechCrunch over email .
