Microsoft sent a letter Tuesday to the artificial intelligence (AI) company, which makes ChatGPT, saying it would give up the observer seat “effective immediately,” our colleague Sarah Fortinsky reported.
“We appreciate the support shown by OpenAI leadership and the OpenAI board as we made this decision,” Microsoft said in its letter.
Microsoft, which has invested heavily in OpenAI, said it assessed its presence was no longer needed on the board since OpenAI’s governance had improved since last year’s chaotic boardroom turnover.
The position had been added after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was ousted by board members in November. Altman was given a spot to hire an AI research team at Microsoft during his brief time away from OpenAI, but a few days after the initial ousting he was bought back on at the company he helms.
As part of his return deal, Microsoft also gained the non-voting observer position on the OpenAI board.
The Financial Times, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that Apple would not take up a similar position on OpenAI’s board amid regulatory scrutiny of investments in such AI companies.
The changes come as the Federal Trade Commission is reportedly investigating OpenAI and Microsoft over their role in the AI industry.
European Union regulators have also signaled they will take a look at Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI.
