This investigation is one of several legal challenges currently facing OpenAI, which was recently valued at $80 billion. The company's relationship with Microsoft has drawn regulatory scrutiny in the UK and Europe, and it is also involved in a copyright infringement lawsuit with The New York Times. The newspaper alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft used its content without permission to develop their AI products.
Key takeaways:
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly investigating whether investors of artificial intelligence company OpenAI were misled, including examining internal communications by CEO Sam Altman.
- The SEC has subpoenaed OpenAI for internal records from current and former officials and directors, and requested that some senior officials preserve internal documents.
- The investigation follows the temporary firing of Altman as CEO due to allegations of not being "consistently candid in his communications". He was later reinstated as the company's head.
- This investigation is one of several legal challenges facing OpenAI, which also include scrutiny over its relationship with Microsoft by UK and European regulators, and a copyright infringement lawsuit by The New York Times.