Apple and Microsoft have announced their decision to step down from their board observer roles at OpenAI amidst increasing regulatory pressure on Big Tech companies’ involvement in artificial intelligence.
According to a report by The Information, Apple quickly reversed its decision to take a board observer seat at OpenAI, following a week-long stint after entering into an AI partnership with the company led by Sam Altman. Similarly, Microsoft recently relinquished its board observer position, prompting OpenAI to declare that they will no longer have board observers moving forward.
Despite integrating OpenAI’s services into their platforms and devices, with Microsoft investing $13 billion in the ChatGPT-maker, concerns have been raised by US and EU regulators about Microsoft’s level of influence over OpenAI. In response to the scrutiny, Microsoft stated that the progress made by OpenAI’s newly formed board over the past eight months has led them to believe that their limited role as an observer is no longer necessary.
As Microsoft exits its board observer role at OpenAI, antitrust bodies are also investigating the tech giant’s dealings with other AI startups, such as Inflection AI. Notably, Amazon is facing scrutiny in the UK for its $4 billion investment in AI firm Anthropic, while Nvidia is under investigation in the US for its dominant position in manufacturing AI chips.
It appears that the tech industry’s involvement in AI ventures is coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny, with companies like Apple and Microsoft reevaluating their roles amidst antitrust concerns and regulatory pressure. These developments signal a shifting landscape in the tech industry’s AI endeavors and partnerships.
