News
OpenAI Board Member Larry Summers Steps Down After Epstein Ties Revealed
- By John K. Waters
- 11/19/2025
Larry Summers has resigned from OpenAI's board of directors following public disclosure of his communications with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The departure of Summers, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard University president, adds to the fallout affecting prominent figures who maintained relationships with Epstein. The financier died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023 as part of an effort to restore stability after the previous board removed CEO Sam Altman, who was reinstated days later. His tenure lasted less than two years.
The nature and extent of Summers's communications with Epstein were not detailed in the announcement. Epstein cultivated relationships with academics, business leaders, and politicians for years before his legal troubles became public.
OpenAI has not commented on whether it will immediately seek a replacement for Summers on its board. The company has faced governance challenges in the past year, including a brief leadership crisis in November 2023 when CEO Sam Altman was temporarily removed and then reinstated.
Summers previously faced criticism during his time as Harvard president over his interactions with Epstein, who had donated to the university and maintained connections with faculty members.
The resignation comes as OpenAI continues to develop and deploy advanced AI systems while navigating questions about corporate structure, safety protocols, and the appropriate pace of AI development.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].