Openai Denies That It’s Weighing A ‘last-ditch’ California Exit Amid Regulatory Pressure Over Its Restructuring

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Posted:

11:00 PM PDT · September 8, 2025

The OpenAI logo is seen displayed connected a smartphone screen.Image Credits:Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images
  • Connie Loizos

OpenAI executives are discussing a imaginable relocation retired of California arsenic expanding governmental guidance threatens nan company’s efforts to person from nonprofit to for-profit status, according to The WSJ, though nan institution says it has nary plans to leave.

California’s lawyer wide is investigating whether OpenAI’s restructuring violates authorities charitable spot law, while a conjugation of nonprofits, labour groups, philanthropies, and moreover rival Meta are pushing backmost against nan conversion. OpenAI has astir $19 cardinal successful backing tied to this restructuring – if it doesn’t happen, investors could locomotion away, which would beryllium catastrophic for nan ChatGPT maker.

Moving OpenAI retired of nan authorities would beryllium peculiarly stunning fixed CEO Sam Altman’s heavy ties to nan Bay Area. He served connected San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s modulation squad pursuing Lurie’s predetermination past twelvemonth and reportedly owns astatine slightest 4 homes successful San Francisco and different successful Napa Valley. Such a move would besides look awesome logistical challenges, since OpenAI’s AI researchers are heavy concentrated successful San Francisco.

The institution continues moving pinch authorities and Delaware attorneys wide connected nan restructuring process; successful nan meantime, nan regulatory unit adds to OpenAI’s existing challenges, including competing successful an escalating AI talent war.

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