Why OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Prefers to Keep the Company Private
OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research lab co-founded by billionaire Elon Musk, has been making huge strides in AI development with its flagship product, ChatGPT. However, the company’s skyrocketing valuation, which has gone as high as $29 billion, has fueled speculations that the firm could be eyeing an initial public offering (IPO). But OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman, isn’t interested in going public.
During a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, Altman revealed his reasons for preferring OpenAI to remain a private company. Giving reporters his thoughts on the potential IPO, he simply replied, “I don’t want to be sued.” But the real reason Altman cited for preferring OpenAI’s private status is that he can maintain full control when making unpopular decisions.
Altman noted that “When we develop superintelligence, we’re likely to make some decisions that public market investors would view very strangely.” He referred to “superintelligence” as a more advanced AI capable of learning any task or skill more effectively than humans. The possibility of making controversial decisions could be higher when dealing with such advanced tech, and Altman would prefer the opportunity to make decisions in the best interests of OpenAI rather than outside investors.
Aside from that, OpenAI has an unusual structure that sets it apart from most other tech companies. The firm was initially established as a non-profit organization in 2015 by Altman and Musk. However, it later evolved to have a for-profit branch, with founders setting up a hybrid “capped-profit” structure that allowed the company to raise external funds while committing to keep the original nonprofit operation benefiting.
The “strange” corporate structure has made it hard for OpenAI to access funding from conventional sources such as venture capitalists and public markets. Still, Altman prefers it that way, as he believes it gives the firm added benefits that cannot be replicated in a public setting. It also allowed OpenAI to explore the more controversial areas of AI development and create innovative products such as ChatGPT.
Altman is on a tour of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, meeting with government officials and lawmakers to discuss OpenAI’s international expansion and AI regulation. During the trip, he announced plans to open another OpenAI office in Japan, which has shown an active interest in adopting AI in government work.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman prefers to keep his company private for the incredible potential benefits that come with it. The ability to make unpopular decisions, access innovative funding sources, and explore the more controversial side of AI development are just some of the pros he’s seeing. That means investors may have to curb their expectations of an OpenAI IPO shortly.
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