Artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, the maker of chatbot ChatGPT, is reportedly considering a switch to a “for-profit” business. The report follows the company’s announcement about the departure of its key executives.
According to Reuters, transforming OpenAI from a non-profit to a for-profit business would allow the startup to adopt a more straightforward structure while becoming more attractive to investors.
If the switch to for-profit ends up taking place, the non-profit part segment would continue to exist as a separate entity and would hold a stake in the for-profit firm.
OpenAI is reportedly in the midst of putting together a funding round that would see the company being valued at approximately $150 billion. A number of major tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, are believed to be interested in investing.
Prior to the report, OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati announced that she decided to step down from her position. Murati previously spent more than six years with the company.
“After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI,” Murati said. “There’s never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right.”
Additionally, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Vice President of Research Barret Zoph also decided to leave.
“The timing of Mira’s decision was such that it made sense to now do this all at once so that we can work together for a smooth handover to the next generation of leadership,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explained in a post shared on social media.