Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn Co-Founder, is Leaving OpenAI's Board, But Why?

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 03 March 2023, 08:03 pm

A prominent executive in the technological industry, Reid Hoffman, also known for co-founding LinkedIn, is now leaving his position at OpenAI as one of its board members. Hoffman made this official earlier with his LinkedIn post and Twitter announcement, foregoing his significant position at one of the largest growing AI companies in the world.

The executive claims that he will remain an ally to OpenAI, particularly to its growing developments in the artificial intelligence world to deliver more of its technology to all.

Reid Hoffman is Leaving OpenAI's Board, But Why?

(Photo : Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for WIRED25)

Reid Hoffman served as OpenAI's board member for eight years now, and this is the time when he also drew the line and left the company to focus on something greater for the world of AI.

The executive is not leaving the company because of some issue or problem he had with its business, and according to his LinkedIn post, he is looking to invest more in AI and to do this, he has to leave his position as a board member of OpenAI.

"As OpenAI's APIs become more important to the next wave of AI applications, Greylock and I will be investing in companies, like Tome and Coda, that will use the OpenAI APIs," said Hoffman.

The executive further claimed that this is the only way to avoid any potential issues with OpenAI and other companies, especially as he serves as its board member. "But by stepping off the board, I can proactively put to rest any downstream potential issues for both OpenAI and all Greylock portfolio companies I've backed."

Hoffman Remains an 'Ally,' Assuring AI Growth

Hoffman is looking to improve more of AI in the world, and he will do this by investing in other companies, as well, and not only in where he previously served as a board member to. He claims that he will remain an "ally" to OpenAI, and further support their work that is shared with the public, but at the same time, support the industry and other startups.

OpenAI and its Development

OpenAI had a promising start. And is because it was backed by many famous executives in the tech industry since its startup days, and now being one of the most prominent AI companies present in the world. One of its backers in its early days and most recently is Elon Musk, the famed tech CEO known to invest heavily in different companies he believes in.

However, the same executive also criticized OpenAI for their partnership with Microsoft, claiming that they have been overtaken by Big Tech, unlike its previous track before.

Musk already left OpenAI, and the company released much tech from its development, including the famous DALL-E 2 which centers on AI art content generation, as well as the famous language models including GPT-3, the one used by its prominent ChatGPT.

The famous AI company is now soaring to massive heights with its relentless developments in creating artificial intelligence models and is doing fine with what it has now. The departure of Reid Hoffman is not in vain or due to an issue he had with the company, but to void them of further issues or conflict, especially with his goals to invest more in others' development of the same tech.