The American software company Microsoft gave up the position of an observer on the board of directors of OpenAI.
According to Microsoft, it is not necessary for him to hold this position because OpenAI’s leadership has improved over the past eight months. Winning a seat on the board has drawn scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic, Reuters reported today.
Microsoft took a non-voting observer position on OpenAI’s board last November when Sam Altman returned as CEO. Getting a seat meant that Microsoft could attend board meetings and have access to confidential information. But he had no voting rights and could not even decide on the election or selection of directors.
The observer position and Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI in the amount of more than ten billion USD (about 234 billion CZK) caused concern of antitrust authorities in Europe, Britain and the United States. And that’s because of concerns about how much control Microsoft has over OpenAI. OpenAI focuses on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and operates the ChatGPT chatbot.
Microsoft added that OpenAI has made significant progress over the past eight months. He is therefore convinced that the company is headed in the right direction. Given this, he believes that his limited role as an observer is no longer necessary.
The European Commission (EC) said in June that the partnership between the two firms would not be subject to EU merger rules because Microsoft does not have control over OpenAI. Instead, the EC will seek third-party opinions on exclusivity clauses in the agreement. In contrast, antitrust authorities in the US and Britain continue to have concerns and questions about Microsoft’s influence over OpenAI and its independence.
Source: zpravy.tiscali.cz
