Hey folks, Nuked here with some tech news that’s surprisingly serious but still kinda fun! Today, we’re diving into the latest from OpenAI and their warning about some shady investment tricks going around.
OpenAI recently published a blog post cautioning everyone about ‘unauthorized opportunities’ to get exposure to their company. They specifically mentioned special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, which are like investment pools for quick, one-off deals. The company warns to be super careful if approached by firms claiming to have access to OpenAI through such methods, especially if they try to sell you an SPV interest.
While not every offer involving OpenAI equity is sketchy, the post suggests some might be trying to dodge their transfer rules. If that’s the case, any sale from those firms would be invalid and worthless—the company makes that clear.
Using SPVs to buy into hot AI startups is getting popular—many venture capitalists are doing it to let smaller investors get a piece of the action. However, some critics argue that these schemes turn into tourist traps for less savvy investors, which is why OpenAI and others are tightening their grip. Interestingly, Anthropic, another major AI player, has also told investors like Menlo Ventures to use their own money directly, instead of through SPVs, to avoid trouble.
So, if you’re thinking of jumping into AI investments, stay alert and watch out for sneaky opportunities. OpenAI’s advice is to be cautious of who you trust with your cash in the fast-paced world of tech and AI.