When employees cash in...
...it's time to invest in the local Ferrari dealership.
OpenAI is reportedly in talks with investors to sell them shares held by the company's employees in a transaction that could boost its valuation up to $90 billion. The rumour was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. The rumoured deal means that instead of issuing new shares, which would dilute equity, OpenAI …
OpenAI might settle out of court - it's a civil issue not a criminal issue. But I wonder, if right the start, they had simply purchased rights to use books for training, if it might not have been cheaper than paying the lawyers. I also wonder, even if they didn't contract with Micheal Creighton, but only second string authors, if it would really have made a big difference (except for the details of Micheal Creighton's books).
For one, copyright violation IS a criminal issue. But the more important thing is, that there are so many parties independently suing already OpenAI (rightly so, because they essentially used everyone's stuff on the internet, and beyond, that they were able to get their hands on), that they will not be able to settle with all of them.
I suspect the real “employees” wanting to sell some shares are the executive team, I doubt the remaining employees hold more than 10 percent of the company.
As for MS sellling, would not be surprised if some random offshore shell company buys employee shares to accumulate a 2~3 percent holding….