Microsoft is giving up its seat on OpenAI’s board, saying its presence is no longer necessary as the ChatGPT maker’s governance has improved since its boardroom upheaval last year.
“We appreciate the support shown by OpenAI leadership and the OpenAI board as we made this decision,” Microsoft stated in a Tuesday letter. The company’s resignation is effective immediately, Microsoft said.
The unexpected exit comes as antitrust regulators scrutinize Microsoft’s partnertship with OpenAI, under which the software giant invested billions in OpenAI.
Microsoft also took a seat on OpenAI’s board after a chaotic period in which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired, then reinstated, with the board members who orchestrated his ouster later pushed out.
“Over the past eight months we have witnessed significant progress by the newly formed board and are confident in the company’s direction,” Microsoft said in its letter. “Given all of this we no longer believe our limited role as an observer …