SOCAR and Syrian government sign memorandum of understanding in Baku
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on July 12 between the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Government of th...
OpenAI announced Monday that it will retain its nonprofit governance structure while proceeding with a major restructuring of its for-profit subsidiary to enable greater capital-raising capacity amid intensifying competition in the artificial intelligence sector.
The decision follows months of internal debate, public scrutiny, and legal challenges—including a prominent lawsuit from Elon Musk, who accused OpenAI of deviating from its original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity.
“We made the decision for the nonprofit to stay in control after hearing from civic leaders and having discussions with the offices of the Attorneys General of California and Delaware,” the company said in a blog post. OpenAI added that it would work closely with stakeholders including Microsoft, its largest investor, and newly appointed nonprofit commissioners to refine the structure.
For-Profit Reorganization Amid Funding Push
In December, OpenAI revealed plans to convert its for-profit operations into a public benefit corporation, a model designed to attract larger funding rounds without compromising a commitment to social impact. On Monday, OpenAI clarified that its nonprofit parent will retain control of the for-profit entity and become a significant shareholder in the restructured arm.
This hybrid structure aims to balance commercial viability with the company’s stated mission of ensuring AI serves public interest, a challenge that has drawn increasing scrutiny as OpenAI's valuation and influence have soared.
In March, OpenAI announced it was seeking to raise up to $40 billion in a new funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank Group, contingent on completing its for-profit transition by the end of 2025. That round would value the company at an estimated $300 billion, reflecting investor optimism in its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI)—AI systems that surpass human-level intelligence.
Governance Under the Spotlight
OpenAI’s complex corporate structure, blending nonprofit oversight with commercial activity, came under intense scrutiny in November 2023, when the company’s board briefly removed CEO Sam Altman amid concerns over leadership and transparency. Altman was reinstated within five days after strong support from employees and backers.
The restructuring plan seeks to avoid future conflicts by reinforcing nonprofit oversight, while allowing the for-profit subsidiary to access the capital needed for AI model development, infrastructure, and global expansion.
Regulatory and Ethical Concerns
The company acknowledged concerns around asset allocation between its nonprofit and for-profit arms and said it would ensure transparency and fairness in managing resources. Critics have argued that OpenAI’s increasing commercial focus could undermine its founding commitment to developing safe and universally beneficial AI.
As the global AI race accelerates—with rivals such as Google DeepMind, Anthropic, xAI, and Meta making parallel strides—OpenAI’s structural realignment is viewed as critical for keeping pace while navigating the ethical and regulatory responsibilities unique to the field.
OpenAI said further details of the restructuring will be released following continued consultations with regulators and key partners.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Around 2,145 senior-ranking employees at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are set to leave under a push to shed staff, Politico reported on Wednesday citing documents obtained by the news outlet.
A woman from Guadeloupe has become the only known person in the world with a newly discovered blood group, which French scientists have named “Gwada negative.”
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Matt Turnbull, executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, faced criticism after a LinkedIn post recommending artificial intelligence tools to help employees deal with the emotional impact of job cuts.
A Chinese-made robot dog named Black Panther has reached a top speed of 10.3 metres per second (34 feet per second), setting a new world record for robotic dogs and approaching the speed of elite human sprinters, according to state media Xinhua News.
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