To the California Attorney General: Keep an eye on OpenAI

When OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit, it made commitments to the public to ensure AI was developed for the public good and to use money, technology, and other assets it accumulated for charitable purposes. But as OpenAI has grown, becoming one of the largest AI companies in the world valued at almost a trillion dollars, it has gotten away from that mission.

The company has repeatedly shown it is more committed to serving investor interests than those of the public. And it has siphoned off the assets created for charitable purposes into its for-profit arm without, it seems, properly compensating the charity.

Nevertheless, in 2025, the California Attorney General allowed OpenAI to go through with a restructuring that paved the way for the company to go public and formally remove all constraints on investors. But as new evidence has come out since that agreement was signed, it is clear that OpenAI is not living up to its commitments to its charitable mission. 

That’s why we’re renewing our call to the California Attorney General to ensure that OpenAI is operating in accordance with the laws that govern nonprofits, deploying its resources for the public good, not private gain. Holding OpenAI accountable is critical, not just because of the importance of its nonprofit mission, but also because it will send a message to the entire AI industry that none of them are above the law. 

Read our letter below to learn what we’re asking the Attorney General to do to hold OpenAI accountable.

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