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OpenAI Cans Safety: Profits Now Top Mission
24 Feb
Summary
- OpenAI removed safety language from its mission statement.
- The company restructured to prioritize profit for investors.
- Concerns rise over potential de-emphasis of AI safety measures.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has restructured, removing safety language from its mission statement. This change, noted in its latest IRS Form 990 filed in November 2025 for the 2024 financial year, reflects a shift from its nonprofit status to a more for-profit model. Investors now hold board positions and receive a share of profits.
Scholars like Tufts University professor Alnoor Ebrahim express concern that this restructuring signals a prioritization of profits over safety. Ebrahim views OpenAI's transformation as a societal test case for overseeing powerful AI organizations. He notes that the mission statement's deletion of safety references makes holding boards accountable for product safety more challenging.
Originally founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, OpenAI received $6.6 billion in new funding in late 2024, contingent on restructuring. This led to the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation ceding 74% control to the OpenAI Group. Microsoft now holds a 27% stake, with employees and other investors owning the remainder.
While OpenAI states online that its mission remains to "benefit all of humanity" and involves "advancing AI's capability, safety, and positive impact," the removal of explicit safety language from its official IRS filings raises significant questions about its long-term commitment to safety.
