OpenAI is revising its approach to investor profits while keeping its nonprofit leadership intact, evolving its business division into a “public benefit company.” This new framework combines financial growth with a commitment to societal welfare. CEO Sam Altman shared in a Monday letter that the organization’s aim is “to operate and secure resources in a way that allows us to make our services widely accessible to all of humanity.”

This shift may pose challenges for major investor Microsoft, whose $13.75 billion investment has bolstered OpenAI’s position in a rapidly expanding sector. Sources from Bloomberg suggest Microsoft is seeking more details about this transition. Altman acknowledged that this transformation could require “hundreds of billions of dollars” initially, with future needs potentially reaching into the trillions.

The move also faces scrutiny from a group of former employees in California, who voiced “deep concerns” in a January letter and urged state officials to ensure OpenAI’s assets are not misused for personal gain. To navigate the change, OpenAI will engage with attorneys general from both California and Delaware to fairly assess the nonprofit’s stake in the new entity.

Altman further emphasized that OpenAI will maintain dialogues with government representatives, Microsoft, and its newly appointed nonprofit board. However, this restructuring may limit Altman’s control within the company, as he will need to report to an independent board overseeing the nonprofit’s continued influence.

With a current valuation of about $300 billion following a $40 billion funding round in March, OpenAI has operated under a unique model since 2019, limiting investor returns to 100 times their initial investment. The organization is also contending with a lawsuit from co-founder Elon Musk, who opposes the shift towards a traditional corporate structure and had previously sought to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion. In response, OpenAI countersued Musk.

Altman concluded by sharing his long-term vision: “We aim to make our nonprofit the largest and most impactful in history, focusing on harnessing AI for the greatest benefit to humanity.”