Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has announced his resignation from the board of OpenAI, following the release of a series of emails between him and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers, who also served as president of Harvard University, stated that he would be stepping back from public commitments due to his association with Epstein. The emails, disclosed by the House Oversight Committee, revealed that Summers maintained communication with Epstein until just before Epstein’s 2019 arrest for alleged sex trafficking of minors. In a statement to the BBC, Summers expressed gratitude for his tenure at OpenAI and optimism about the company’s future, while acknowledging his ‘misguided decision’ to continue communicating with Epstein. OpenAI respected Summers’ decision to resign, appreciating his contributions to the board. The controversy has also led to broader political implications, with Congress agreeing to pass a measure requiring the US Justice Department to release its files on Epstein, which will now head to President Donald Trump for approval. Summers, who held senior roles under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, will continue his teaching commitments at Harvard despite stepping back from public life. The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, confirmed that Summers is no longer affiliated with the organization. Summers joined OpenAI’s board in 2023 after a failed attempt to oust CEO Sam Altman.
Larry Summers resigns from OpenAI board after Epstein emails made public
