In a shocking turn of events, it has come to light that the person supposedly in charge of OpenAI’s $175 million startup fund may have been completely fabricated. The startling revelation was first brought to the public’s attention by the newsletter Nongaap Investing, with additional coverage provided by Business Insider.
According to reports, documents filed with the California Secretary of State indicated that a certain Jacob Thomas Vespers was appointed as the manager of the fund in 2023. However, investigations have revealed that Jacob Vespers does not appear to exist, and the documents themselves are deemed as completely fake by OpenAI.
To add to the intrigue, the address provided for Jacob Vespers led to an affordable housing complex in Santa Ana, California, which denied any affiliation with OpenAI. The company has since confirmed that the documents in question were not legitimate, and they were not made aware of the fraudulent scheme until a journalist inquired about it in the summer of 2023, several months after the paperwork was filed.
Despite the seriousness of knowingly filing false documents with a public office, OpenAI chose not to report the incident to the authorities at that time. The current head of the fund is now revealed to be OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, who has taken charge following this bizarre and potentially criminal episode.
The motive behind this elaborate ruse remains uncertain. Was it a failed attempt at financial malpractice, a misguided prank, or something more sinister at play? While the true intentions behind this deception remain unclear, the gravity of the situation cannot be understated.
As one of the most prominent startups globally, OpenAI’s reputation and credibility are on the line. The implications of this scandal are far-reaching, raising questions about accountability, security, and the integrity of business practices in the tech industry. The saga of the fake fund manager at OpenAI serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the importance of diligence and transparency in all operational aspects of a company.
