OpenAI has announced the appointment of Scott Schools, former Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Uber, as the company's Chief Compliance Officer. Schools' addition is set to bring a fresh perspective on compliance to OpenAI. With a background that includes serving as a Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice, he possesses a profound understanding of compliance and ethical issues.
As OpenAI's operations continue to expand, facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, the company aims to leverage Schools' professional background to strengthen its work in artificial intelligence governance frameworks and ethical standards. His appointment marks a significant step towards greater compliance and transparency for OpenAI.
Concurrently, OpenAI is undergoing broader structural adjustments, planning to transform the company into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). This change not only allows the company to focus more on social welfare while pursuing profits but is also seen as a necessary strategy to attract large-scale investments. This shift comes as OpenAI seeks to raise $5 billion in a new funding round to propel its valuation beyond $150 billion.
This transformation of the business model also aids in simplifying OpenAI's existing governance structure, where the nonprofit board currently oversees its profitable ventures, a setup that has caused some dissatisfaction among investors. Therefore, reshaping the corporate governance structure has become a pressing priority.
It is worth noting that this appointment comes after a series of high-level departures at OpenAI, including that of the Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, and two other senior researchers. Facing these challenges, OpenAI has clearly recognized that ensuring the control of AI compliance and ethical development will be crucial in maintaining investor confidence.
Key Points:
🌟 OpenAI appoints former Uber executive Scott Schools as Chief Compliance Officer, enhancing compliance and ethical efforts.
💡 The company plans to transition into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) to balance profit and social responsibility.
📈 Structural adjustments are aimed at attracting large-scale investments and addressing investor concerns over the current governance structure.