OpenAI eyes path to 'for-profit' status as more executives flee

The tension between creating technology for humanity's sake and collecting a profit is coming to a head for the creator of ChatGPT

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, speaks during the Italian Tech Week 2024
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shut down rumors he is seeking a giant stake in the company
(Image credit: Stefano Guidi / Contributor / Getty Images)

The tension between OpenAI's altruistic nonprofit roots and an internal push towards prioritizing profitability over safety is coming to a head. Recent news of mass resignations and a rumored shift toward for-profit status highlight how CEO Sam Altman has steered the company in a new direction. The news that the company's nonprofit days could end has some pondering: Has success warped yet another Silicon Valley darling, or was this the plan all along?

Resignations pile up as rumors swirl

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Theara Coleman, The Week US

Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.