To protect itself from potential hostile takeover attempts in the future, OpenAI is reportedly considering granting special voting rights to its nonprofit board, according to a new report from the Financial Times.
These special rights would enable the board to override major investors, ensuring it retains some control even after OpenAI completes its transition to a for-profit structure. Originally founded as a nonprofit, OpenAI shifted to a “capped-profit” model in 2019. Now, the company is undergoing another restructuring, this time into a public benefit corporation.
Last week, a group of investors, led by billionaire Elon Musk, made a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit. While the board unanimously rejected the offer, the move could still complicate OpenAI’s ongoing plans.
As part of its restructuring, OpenAI intends to spin off its nonprofit arm, which will establish its own leadership and staff. This separation would allow the for-profit division to fully manage OpenAI’s business operations. The company has assured investors that the transition will be completed by late 2026.