Post by : Badri Ariffin

In an unexpected development, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has officially resigned from the board of OpenAI, as reported by Axios on Wednesday. This decision comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s directive for the Justice Department to investigate Summers and other notable Democrats over alleged associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Summers, who also previously served as president of Harvard University, had hinted at reducing his public engagements. In a statement released on Monday, he underscored the necessity to "rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me," indicating a pause on both personal and professional fronts.

This resignation occurs as the Republican-led U.S. Congress has advocated for the unveiling of Justice Department documents related to Epstein, defying prior resistance from Trump. Supporters of Trump have accused his administration of downplaying or masking details surrounding Epstein’s prominent death in 2019, which was concluded as a suicide while in a Manhattan detention center.

Additionally, Harvard University is reportedly initiating a renewed inquiry into Summers’ connections with Epstein, according to the university’s own newspaper. This scrutiny brings to light rising concerns regarding the depth of Epstein’s ties with influential figures in both political and academic circles.

As of now, there has been no official comment from OpenAI or Summers’ representatives regarding the resignation. These unfolding events signify a critical moment at the crossroads of politics, academia, and major technology governance, raising vital questions about accountability and transparency across various domains.

#Global News #AI #Technology