Microsoft has announced its abandonment of an observer seat on OpenAI’s board. Originally granted last year by OpenAI in the wake of the abrupt firing and re-hiring of its founder and chief executive, Sam Altman, the big tech firm said in a letter to OpenAI that it no longer needed to keep the seat as governance at the startup had substantially improved since then.
“This position provided insights into the board’s activities without compromising its independence,” wrote Microsoft’s deputy chief counsel Keith Dolliver. However, eight months on after the attempted coup against Altman at OpenAI, “we have witnessed significant progress from the newly formed board and are confident in the company’s direction.” The seat is now vacant, with the Financial Times reporting that Apple – after announcing its own partnership with OpenAI last month – refusing to assume Microsoft’s old position.
