OpenAI Ownership Explained: Who Really Controls ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is owned and operated by OpenAI Group PBC, a privately held public benefit corporation controlled by the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation. Microsoft is a major shareholder, but it does not control the company. The distinction reveals an increasingly important question for the artificial intelligence industry: who receives the financial rewards, and who ultimately makes the decisions? The ownership of ChatGPT is more complicated than the ownership of most technology products. OpenAI has commercial shareholders, a nonprofit controlling institution, strategic technology partners and employees with financial interests in its success. Yet none of these groups should be confused with the organisation that possesses ultimate governance authority.