The evolution of OpenAI’s mission statement
Hacker News
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The evolution of OpenAI’s mission statement reflects its strategic shifts over nearly a decade, revealing a journey from collaborative innovation to a focused pursuit of impactful AI advancements. Established in 2016 as a nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3), OpenAI initially aimed to advance digital intelligence to benefit humanity without financial constraints, emphasizing community collaboration and open sharing. However, the mission evolved significantly by 2024, narrowing its focus to ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity while omitting mentions of safety and financial independence.
The transformation began in 2018 when OpenAI dropped references to building AI as part of a larger community and sharing plans openly. By 2021, the mission shifted from "helping build safe AI" to developing it themselves, with increased confidence
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/13/2026