OpenAI names four advisors to boost nonprofit initiatives

Investing.com -- OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab, has announced the appointment of four new advisors to its Nonprofit Commission. The advisors, Dolores Huerta, Monica Lozano, Dr. Robert K. Ross, and Jack Oliver, have been selected to guide OpenAI’s philanthropic endeavors. Their mission is to amplify the impact of the nonprofit arm of OpenAI, which is focused on addressing global challenges in areas such as health, education, public service, and scientific discovery.

The Nonprofit Commission is a recent initiative, aiming to extend the reach and impact of OpenAI’s nonprofit activities. The commission is backed by resources that could be historic and powered by OpenAI’s AI technology. The newly appointed advisors bring a wealth of experience from their work with community-based organizations, and will be instrumental in launching an engagement process to gather insights and feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The commission’s convener is Daniel Zingale.

The advisors will gather community feedback on how OpenAI’s philanthropy can address long-term systemic issues, while also considering the potential and risks of AI. They will advise the Board on guiding a transparent community engagement process, bring together top insights from various sectors including health, science, education, and public services, and submit findings to the Board within 90 days as a key milestone in the ongoing community feedback and collaboration process.

Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, OpenAI Board Member and former CEO of the Gates Foundation, stated that the commission is a critical step in ensuring OpenAI’s philanthropic efforts are grounded in real-world insight and guided by people who understand how to drive impact.

The announcement of these appointments comes amid a legal dispute between Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, and the organization. In March 2024, Musk sued OpenAI, claiming it had abandoned its nonprofit mission for profit, particularly through its partnership with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). The formation of the Nonprofit Commission appears to be an effort by OpenAI to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to its nonprofit roots, despite plans to restructure as a for-profit benefit corporation. The legal battle continues, underscoring ongoing tensions over the direction of OpenAI.

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