Yesterday, our High school finalists wrote the Computer/ICT practical examination, and I was excited that those in my Tech Club came out smiling. It's what they've had all-around experience through our weekly Tech meetings. We still had some moments to reflect on a few developments around. I found the news about OpenAI's structural overhaul, and we discussed and learnt together. Open AI is shaking things up to make their dream happen faster! On May 5, 2025, OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, announced switching to a Public Benefit Corporation model to supercharge their mission of creating artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The announcement, detailed in a blog post titled “Evolving OpenAI’s Structure,” outlines a transition from its complex capped-profit model to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) framework, while maintaining oversight by its nonprofit arm. This move is intended to secure the vast financial resources needed to compete in the rapidly intensifying AI development race, while reinforcing OpenAI’s commitment to its founding principles.
A Decade of Innovation and Adaptation
Founded in 2015 by luminaries including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Greg Brockman, OpenAI began as a nonprofit dedicated to advancing AI research for the benefit of humanity. Its mission was to ensure that AGI, highly autonomous systems capable of outperforming humans in most economically valuable work, would be developed safely and equitably. Initially funded by $137 million in donations, including a significant contribution from Musk, the nonprofit model allowed OpenAI to prioritize ethical considerations over profit motives. However, the escalating computational power and talent costs necessitated a shift in 2019, when OpenAI introduced a capped-profit subsidiary to attract investment while preserving nonprofit governance.
This hybrid structure enabled OpenAI to secure billions in funding, including a landmark partnership with Microsoft, which has invested heavily in the organization. The success of ChatGPT, launched in 2022, catapulted OpenAI into the global spotlight, sparking widespread interest in generative AI and fueling discussions about its corporate governance. The organization’s unusual structure was scrutinized during a tumultuous 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was briefly ousted, only to return after employee pushback. Legal challenges from co-founder Musk, who alleged that OpenAI had deviated from its mission, further highlighted tensions within its governance model.
The New Structure: A Public Benefit Corporation
The newly announced plan transitions OpenAI’s for-profit LLC, established in 2019, into a Delaware-based Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). A PBC is a corporate structure that balances shareholder interests with a defined public benefit—in this case, OpenAI’s mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity. Unlike the previous capped-profit model, which limited investor returns to align with the nonprofit’s goals, the PBC structure adopts a conventional capital framework, making it easier to raise the “hundreds of billions, and potentially trillions” of dollars required for AGI development, according to Altman.
The OpenAI nonprofit will retain control of the PBC and become a significant shareholder, with its stake determined by independent financial advisors. This arrangement is expected to make the nonprofit “one of the best-resourced in history,” enabling it to fund initiatives in healthcare, education, and other AI-driven public goods. The nonprofit’s board, chaired by Bret Taylor, will continue to oversee all OpenAI activities, ensuring that the mission remains paramount.