In a significant development for the artificial intelligence sector, former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has resigned from the board of ChatGPT creator OpenAI. The departure follows the emergence of emails revealing his continued friendly correspondence with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Revelation and Resignation
Larry Summers stepped down after it became public knowledge that he had maintained a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein long after the billionaire's 2008 conviction for child sex offences. The OpenAI board acknowledged his decision in a formal statement, saying: "Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI board of directors, and we respect his decision. We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the board."
This announcement came just one day after Mr Summers declared he would be stepping back from his public commitments. In a separate statement issued through his spokesperson Kelly Friendly, Mr Summers confirmed: "In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress."
Background and Context
Mr Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023 during a period of significant turmoil for the organisation. His appointment was part of a broader effort to restore stability after the non-profit's previous board members had unexpectedly fired chief executive Sam Altman just days earlier. The move was intended to help bring Mr Altman back to leadership and steady the company's direction.
Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide several years ago while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was a convicted sex offender known for cultivating relationships with wealthy, influential figures. His extensive network among American elites has made him a persistent focus of public outrage and conspiracy theories regarding misconduct in powerful circles.
Implications and Fallout
The resignation marks another challenging chapter for OpenAI, which has positioned itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence development while navigating complex governance structures. The emergence of the Epstein emails has created immediate reputational challenges for both Mr Summers and the organisation he served.
This development raises questions about due diligence processes for board appointments at major technology firms, particularly those operating in sensitive fields like artificial intelligence. The situation also highlights the ongoing scrutiny facing public figures with historical connections to Jeffrey Epstein, even years after his death.
As the story continues to develop, attention now turns to how OpenAI will manage this leadership transition and whether further revelations about board members' past associations might emerge in the highly scrutinised AI industry.
