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Why is OpenAI investing in startups? They invest 100 million in another as well. I thought OpenAI was building their own things as a non profit, why are they in

Why is OpenAI investing in startups? They invest 100 million in another as well. I thought OpenAI was building their own things as a non profit, why are they investing? Is it normal for non profits to invest like this? Do they lack confidence in their own stuff, do OpenAI have too much money they don't know what to do with? "Norwegian humanoid robot startup 1X Technologies recently raised $100 million with backing from OpenAI" https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/29/robot-startup-figure-valued-at-2point6-billion-by-bezos-amazon-nvidia.html https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/29/robot-startup-figure-valued-...

notRobot 3y ago
OpenAI no longer operates as a non-profit. The "OpenAI" name has been a joke for years in tech circles for this reason.
- hn_acker 3y ago
  I thought the joke was that OpenAI doesn't grant anything even resembling an "open" license (whether free as in freedom according to the FSF, open as in open source according to the OSI, or open as in Open Knowledge's definition [1]) to use OpenAI's models. (Tangential reminder: open is not merely access to the code and data but also the legal freedom to use and modify it for any purpose.) [1] https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/ https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/
deleted 3y ago
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Palmik 3y ago
Yes, it's quite common, see for example: https://mozilla.vc/ https://mozilla.vc/ https://www.cff.org/about-us/our-venture-philanthropy-model https://www.cff.org/about-us/our-venture-philanthropy-model
- hamoodhabibi 3y ago
  this is not even a fair comparison. mozilla isn't using all of our data to build a product that will be metered
Jensson 3y ago
Apparently it is a separate entity and fund, they don't invest money from OpenAI but money raised specifically for investing. So this doesn't say much about OpenAI, they aren't investing money they could use themselves. https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vc-fund-raised-10-million-spv-from-2-investors-2024-2 https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vc-fund-raised-10-mil...
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leesec 3y ago
1. They're not a nonprofit 2. They had shut down their robotics wing so now their using investment to get back into the game. 3. What's with this negative tone?
hamoodhabibi 3y ago
Asking this question on a platform pretty much aligned with Sam Altman and expecting real nuanced answer is unrealistic. Remember they shut down the thread regarding Sam Altman's sister alleging she was molested by him. Its just incredibly sad to see how society is quick to overlook one's transgressions if it stands to benefit from that individual. Artists, CEOs, politicians, celebrities. Just one sick world and this blatant disregard for "non-profit" because bunch of men feel they were chosen.

notRobot 3y ago

OpenAI no longer operates as a non-profit. The "OpenAI" name has been a joke for years in tech circles for this reason.

hn_acker 3y ago
I thought the joke was that OpenAI doesn't grant anything even resembling an "open" license (whether free as in freedom according to the FSF, open as in open source according to the OSI, or open as in Open Knowledge's definition [1]) to use OpenAI's models. (Tangential reminder: open is not merely access to the code and data but also the legal freedom to use and modify it for any purpose.) [1] https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/ https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/

deleted 3y ago

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Palmik 3y ago

Yes, it's quite common, see for example: https://mozilla.vc/ https://mozilla.vc/ https://www.cff.org/about-us/our-venture-philanthropy-model https://www.cff.org/about-us/our-venture-philanthropy-model

hamoodhabibi 3y ago
this is not even a fair comparison. mozilla isn't using all of our data to build a product that will be metered

Jensson 3y ago

Apparently it is a separate entity and fund, they don't invest money from OpenAI but money raised specifically for investing. So this doesn't say much about OpenAI, they aren't investing money they could use themselves. https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vc-fund-raised-10-million-spv-from-2-investors-2024-2 https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vc-fund-raised-10-mil...

deleted 3y ago

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leesec 3y ago

1. They're not a nonprofit 2. They had shut down their robotics wing so now their using investment to get back into the game. 3. What's with this negative tone?

hamoodhabibi 3y ago

Asking this question on a platform pretty much aligned with Sam Altman and expecting real nuanced answer is unrealistic. Remember they shut down the thread regarding Sam Altman's sister alleging she was molested by him. Its just incredibly sad to see how society is quick to overlook one's transgressions if it stands to benefit from that individual. Artists, CEOs, politicians, celebrities. Just one sick world and this blatant disregard for "non-profit" because bunch of men feel they were chosen.