OpenAI, the American AI company behind ChatGPT, has announced it will not transition to a for-profit structure. Instead, its commercial arm will be organized as a public benefit corporation (PBC). This decision ensures the company's structure remains non-profit.
According to CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI's mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. The PBC will be required to consider the interests of both shareholders and the company's mission.
Altman stated that this structure is the best way to fulfill their mission and create substantial benefits for everyone through these new tools. He also noted that the company will cautiously deploy its systems and moderate their use.
The form of PBC is popular among AI companies. Elon Musk's xAI and Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees, are registered as PBCs. This structure reduces the likelihood of lawsuits against the company in cases of conflicting shareholder interests.
OpenAI is also developing its own social network to compete with Elon Musk's X platform. This move signals a broader strategy to expand its influence in the tech landscape.