According to the Financial Times, OpenAI is considering doing away with a clause that locks out leading partner and investor Microsoft's cutting-edge technology when it comes to making artificial general intelligence (AGI) a reality.
Under current rules, OpenAI's board of directors will decide when OpenAI creates an AGI, which the startup defines as “a highly autonomous system that outperforms humans at the most economically valuable tasks.” That will happen. Removing this provision would allow Microsoft to continue accessing and investing in OpenAI's technology even after AGI.
According to the Financial Times, a final decision has not yet been taken by the board.
This provision was intended to prevent AGI from being exploited for commercial gain, assuming it eventually arrives in some form. It will transfer ownership of the technology to OpenAI's nonprofit board and separate AGI from all OpenAI licensing agreements.
However, OpenAI is under significant pressure to raise funding to continue research and development.