OpenAI changed its mission statement 6 times in 9 years. It finally removed the word “safely” as a core value when it restructured into a for-profit

Fortune

by Catherina Gioino

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has made significant changes to its mission statement following its restructuring into a for-profit entity. The organization removed the word "safely" from its core values, sparking concerns among scholars and critics about prioritizing profits over product safety. This shift comes after OpenAI secured $6.6 billion in new funding, which required it to restructure as a traditional for-profit company under investor control. While OpenAI maintains that its mission remains focused on ensuring artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits humanity, the removal of "safely" has raised eyebrows. The change was first noticed in OpenAI’s latest IRS filing, which revealed the company’s new mission statement: “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” This contrasts with previous iterations, including one from 2015, where safety was explicitly mentioned as a key priority. The restructuring handed over 74% control to investors and employees, with Microsoft now owning 27% of the company’s stock. OpenAI’s board is now dominated by investor representatives, leading some to question whether this will result in decisions driven more by profit than by safety concerns. Critics, such as Alnoor Ebrahim, a professor at Tufts University, argue that the removal of "safely" signals a potential shift toward prioritizing revenue over ethical considerations. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has faced legal challenges, including lawsuits alleging negligence and product liability claims related to the company’s AI technologies. These developments have led Ebrahim and others to warn about the broader implications for how society oversees organizations with immense power to shape outcomes for humanity. Despite the mission statement change, OpenAI continues to emphasize safety in its public messaging. The organization still frames its work as focused on advancing AGI’s capability, safety, and positive impact globally. However, the omission of "safely" from official filings has left observers questioning whether the company’s priorities have shifted. OpenAI’s history of mission statement changes—six revisions over nine years—raises further doubts about its commitment to long-term ethical goals. This restructuring marks a significant turning point for OpenAI, which originally launched as a nonprofit

Verticals

businessfinance

Originally published on Fortune on 2/23/2026