OpenAI is reportedly considering special voting rights to fend off potential hostile takeover attempts.

OpenAI is considering granting its non-profit board special voting rights to protect the board's decision-making power, according to sources familiar with the matter, in a move aimed at helping the company fend off a potential hostile takeover in the future. Once approved, the special voting rights would allow the non-profit board to block decisions by major investors such as Microsoft and SoftBank. As the company transitions to a for-profit structure, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and board members are evaluating a range of new governance measures, including special voting rights. Last week, OpenAI rejected a $97bn takeover bid led by Elon Musk, who co-founded the company in 2015 but left in 2018. OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor said: "OpenAI is not for sale and the board unanimously rejected Musk's latest attempt to disrupt the company's competitors." The special voting rights would give the non-profit board the ability to block decisions by major investors such as Microsoft and SoftBank.