【环球财经】OpenAI调整转制方案 “非营利”母公司仍控制营利部门

Core Viewpoint - OpenAI announced a revised corporate restructuring plan, transitioning its for-profit division into a "public benefit corporation" while maintaining control under its non-profit parent company [1][2]. Restructuring Plan - OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a non-profit organization with the mission to develop AI technology for the benefit of humanity. In 2019, it established a for-profit subsidiary, which led to increasing commercialization and controversy [2]. - The new plan aims to find a compromise between the non-profit and for-profit structures. The non-profit parent company will retain control over the new "public benefit corporation," contrary to previous plans that suggested relinquishing control [2]. - The "public benefit corporation" model, first introduced in Delaware in 2013, allows for-profit operations while also having a defined social mission, which the company can define broadly [2]. - OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman and board chair Brett Taylor stated that the board collectively agreed to retain control by the parent company while seeking new avenues for business growth. Existing shareholders will hold shares in the new "public benefit corporation," and profit return caps for some investors will be lifted [2]. Financing and Partnerships - OpenAI plans to collaborate with major investors like Microsoft and regulatory bodies to determine the equity distribution in the for-profit division [3]. - The company has historically relied on funding from Microsoft but is now looking to raise up to $40 billion in a new financing round led by SoftBank Group, contingent on completing the restructuring by the end of this year [3]. - Altman expressed confidence that the revised plan would still attract investment from SoftBank [3]. Internal Conflicts - OpenAI gained significant attention after launching the ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022, but it has faced internal conflicts and management upheavals [4]. - In late 2023, Altman experienced a brief dismissal and subsequent reinstatement, leading to a complete board reshuffle. Several high-level executives, including the chief scientist and chief technology officer, departed following these events [5]. - Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, left due to disagreements with Altman and subsequently founded a competing AI company, xAI. Musk has filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging violations of its original non-profit principles [5]. Legal and Regulatory Considerations - A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for March next year regarding Musk's lawsuits, with a jury set to make a ruling. Musk's legal team has indicated no plans to withdraw the lawsuit in response to OpenAI's new plan [7]. - OpenAI's restructuring will require approval from the attorneys general of Delaware and California, where the company is registered and headquartered, respectively [7]. - Experts have noted that the current proposal lacks detail, making it difficult to assess the extent of control the non-profit parent company will have over the for-profit subsidiary in the future [7].