In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft and Apple have relinquished their observer seats on the board of OpenAI, the renowned artificial intelligence research organization behind ChatGPT. This unexpected departure comes amid mounting antitrust concerns surrounding Microsoft’s substantial investment in OpenAI and its potential influence over the company’s direction.
While Microsoft had held a non-voting seat on the board for less than a year, the company cited recent improvements in OpenAI’s governance as a reason for its decision. Apple, which had been rumored to be considering a similar role, also chose not to join the board.
Both companies have emphasized their commitment to continued collaboration with OpenAI on safety and security issues through regular stakeholder meetings. However, this move comes as regulatory bodies on both sides of the Atlantic scrutinize the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, with concerns over potential anti-competitive practices and the impact on the AI landscape.
Despite stepping down from the board, Microsoft remains OpenAI’s exclusive cloud partner, powering all of OpenAI’s workloads across various products, API services, and research. This partnership has given Microsoft a significant advantage in the AI race, with OpenAI’s models integrated into Bing, Copilot, and numerous other Microsoft products.
The withdrawal of Microsoft and Apple from OpenAI’s board signals a shift in the dynamics of the AI industry. It reflects the growing scrutiny of Big Tech’s influence on AI development and the need for greater transparency and collaboration within the AI community.
