Emotions ride high with Emmys going to Angela Bassett, Dick Van Dyke
By Robert Goldrich
LOS ANGELES --It seemed apropos that Saturday evening (9/7) was big for Saturday Night Live as the stalwart NBC show topped the awards tally on the first night of two Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies this weekend. Saturday Night Live took six Emmy Awards spanning such categories as directing, technical direction, production design, lighting design, makeup and hairstyling.
Next with four wins apiece were Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix), The Oscars telecast (ABC), and Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+). The latter too felt appropriate as the documentary celebrated Henson of Muppets fame for his creativity and impactful contributions to the arts–which dovetailed nicely with a Creative Arts competition. Jim Henson Idea Man, directed by Ron Howard, topped the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special category while also gaining recognition for its picture editing, music composition and sound editing.
Blue Eye Samurai was named Outstanding Animated Program while also picking up three juried awards for its lead character designer, production designer and storyboard artist.
Saturday Night Live’s Emmy haul spanned production design, hairstyling, makeup and lighting design.
Meanwhile, the first night of the Creative Arts Emmys had some emotional highlights, including Angela Bassett winning her first career Emmy Award–for her narration of the National Geographic show Queens. “Oh my god, wow, my first Emmy,” an emotional Bassett said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled and more grateful.”
Bassett was attracted to the documentary project for its subject matter–matriarchs in wildlife–and a women-led production team assembled to do justice to the project. Having a female-dominant crew, she said backstage, was a first in nature wildlife series history. Queens was just too good an opportunity to pass up. “It just touched my heart,” she recalled. “So I said yes.”
Also stirring the industry crowd emotionally was CBS’ Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic winning the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded). Van Dyke, who turns 99 next month, was part of the contingent who came up on stage to accept the award, receiving a standing ovation. As the ensemble was walking off stage, Van Dyke quipped. “I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to my memorial. I don’t have a date yet but I’m not feeling very well.”
Backstage after the win, Van Dyke was asked about his favorite experience on television. He immediately cited his five years on The Dick Van Dyke Show created by Carl Reiner. He described the series as “the most fun I’ve ever had,” noting that half the show was ad-libbed. That show bucked the norm, filming before a studio audience. He’s proud that the real laughter from that audience was rented out to other shows in need of a laugh track.
Van Dyke won three primetime acting Emmys for The Dick Van Dyke Show–in 1964, ‘65 and ‘66. He came up a winner again in ‘77 for Van Dyke and Company, which earned distinction as Outstanding Comedy-Variety Series. He now is a five-time primetime Emmy winner.
Maya Rudolph won her sixth career Emmy on Saturday night, taking the trophy for best character voiceover for her work on Big Mouth at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
The former and future Saturday Night Live star Rudolph is up for three more Emmys. Her voiceover work as the Hormone Monstress on the Netflix animated show Big Mouth has earned her four of her Emmys.
“I’m really proud to be a part of this show,” she said. “It humanizes being human.”
Rudolph won two Emmys when she was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and is nominated for two more for her work as host of the sketch institution last season. Those categories will be awarded on the second night (9/8) of the Creative Arts Emmys.
She will be returning this fall to play Vice President Kamala Harris on the 50th season of Saturday Night Live in the weeks leading up to the election.
“I feel like I am connected somehow to an incredible time in this country and an excitement that I haven’t felt in a long time,” Rudolph said backstage on Saturday, adding that Saturday Night Live is her favorite place away from home.
She is also nominated at the main Emmys ceremony for best actress in a comedy for her Apple TV+ series Loot.
Among other highlights on the first night of the Creative Arts Emmys were Billy Joel: The 100th–Live At Madison Square Garden tallying three Emmy wins as did Welcome To Wrexham. Rounding out the slate of multiple winners were Girls State and Love On The Spectrum with two apiece.
Apple’s “Fuzzy Feelings” won the primetime commercial Emmy (see separate story here).
–additional reporting by AP entertainment writer Andrew Dalton.
Here’s a full rundown of Saturday night winners at the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony:
76TH CREATIVE ARTS EMMY AWARDS – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2024
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM NONFICTION OR REALITY SERIES
SHŌGUN – THE MAKING OF SHŌGUN FX
Stephanie Gibbons, Executive Producer
Sally Daws, Executive Producer
Kenna McCabe, Executive Producer
Melanie Pimentel, Supervising Producer
Joel Kazuo Knoernschild, Senior Producer
Andie Newell, Producer
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM COMEDY, DRAMA OR VARIETY SERIES
ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING: ONE KILLER QUESTION HULU
Janice C. Molinari, Executive Producer
Dave Roth, Executive Producer
Zuriht Serna, Executive Producer
Trisha Choate, Executive Producer
Jillian Novak, Executive Producer
Xavier Salas, Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
JEOPARDY! ABC/SYNDICATED
Michael Davies, Executive Producer
Lisa Broffman, Co-Executive Producer
Sarah Whitcomb Foss, Producer
Billy Wisse, Writer
Michele Loud, Writer
Marcus Brown, Writer
John Duarte, Writer
Mark Gaberman, Writer
Debbie Griffin, Writer
Robert McClenaghan, Writer
Jim Rhine, Writer
Steve Tamerius, Writer
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A GAME SHOW
PAT SAJAK, Host ABC/SYNDICATED
Wheel Of Fortune
OUTSTANDING COMMERCIAL
FUZZY FEELINGS – APPLE – IPHONE + MAC
Hungry Man / Passion Pictures, Production Company
TBWAMedia Arts Lab, Ad Agency
OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE
MAYA RUDOLPH as Connie The Hormone Monstress NETFLIX
Big Mouth
The Ambition Gremlin
OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM
BLUE EYE SAMURAI
The Tale Of The Ronin And The Bride
NETFLIX
MICHAEL GREEN, Executive Producer/Directed By
AMBER NOIZUMI, Executive Producer/Written By
ERWIN STOFF, Executive Producer
JANE WU, Supervising Director/Producer
NICK READ, Producer
MICHAEL GREENHOLT, Animation Director
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION
(Juried Award: All entrants are screened by a jury of appropriate peer group members and one, more than one, or no award entry is awarded an Emmy.)
NOÉMIE LEROUX, Background Designer HBO | MAX
Scavengers Reign
The Dream
ALEX SMALL-BUTERA, Animator HBO | MAX
Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake
The Winter King
JAN MAAS, Lead Animator PEACOCK
In The Know
Yogurt Week
BRIAN KESINGER, Lead Character Designer NETFLIX
Blue Eye Samurai
Nothing Broken
TARA BILLINGER, Art Director HBO | MAX
Clone High
Let’s Try This Again
TOBY WILSON, Production Designer NETFLIX
Blue Eye Samurai
The Great Fire Of 1657
RYAN O’LOUGHLIN, Storyboard Artist NETFLIX
Blue Eye Samurai
Hammerscale
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A VARIETY OR REALITY SERIES
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
N. JOSEPH DETULLIO, Production Designer
KENNETH MACLEOD, Production Designer
MELISSA SHAKUN, Art Director
KIMBERLY KACHOUGIAN, Set Decorator
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Josh Brolin
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
MISTY BUCKLEY, Production Designer
ALANA BILLINGSLEY, Production Designer
JOHN ZUIKER, Art Director
MARGAUX LAPRESLE, Art Director
ABC
The Oscars
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR VARIETY OR REALITY PROGRAMMING
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
KARLA PUNO GARCIA, Choreographer CBS
76th Annual Tony Awards
Routines: Opening Number / Lifetime Achievement
OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
JODI MANCUSO, Department Head Hairstylist
CARA HANNAH, Key Hairstylist
INGA THRASHER, Hairstylist
JOSEPH WHITMEYER, Hairstylist
AMANDA DUFFY EVANS, Hairstylist
CHAD HARLOW, Hairstylist
GINA FERRUCCI, Hairstylist
ELLIOTT SIMPSON, Hairstylist
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Ryan Gosling
OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
LOUIE ZAKARIAN, Department Head Makeup Artist
JASON MILANI, Key Makeup Artist
AMY TAGLIAMONTI, Key Makeup Artist
RACHEL PAGANI, Makeup Artist
YOUNG BEK, Makeup Artist
BRANDON GRETHER, Makeup Artist
JOANNA PISANI, Makeup Artist
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Ryan Gosling
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
CIAN O’CLERY, Casting By
SEAN BOWMAN, Casting By
MARINA NIETO RITGER, Casting By
EMMA CHOATE, Casting By
NETFLIX
Love On The Spectrum
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
LAURA HUDOCK, Director Of Photography
LAELA KILBOURN, Director Of Photography
DANIEL CARTER, Director Of Photography
ERYNN PATRICK LAMONT, Director Of Photography
KERI OBERLY, Director Of Photography
THORSTEN THIELOW, Director Of Photography
MARTINA RADWAN, Director Of Photography
APPLE TV+
Girls State
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
CHARLIE BECK, Director Of Photography
MICHAEL CHEESEMAN, Director Of Photography
DANNY DAY, Director Of Photography
PEDRO DELBREY, Camera Operator
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Life Below Zero
Bulletproof
OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAMMING
(Juried Award: All entrants are screened by a jury of appropriate peer group members and
one, more than one, or no award entry is awarded an Emmy.)
MACHINE DAZZLE, Costume Designer HBO | MAX
Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History Of Popular Music
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
DANIEL O’BRIEN, Senior Writer
OWEN PARSONS, Senior Writer
CHARLIE REDD, Senior Writer
JOANNA ROTHKOPF, Senior Writer
SEENA VALI, Senior Writer
JOHNATHAN APPEL, Writer
ALI BARTHWELL, Writer
TIM CARVELL, Writer
LIZ HYNES, Writer
RYAN KEN, Writer
MARK KRAMER, Writer
SOFÍA MANFREDI, Writer
JOHN OLIVER, Writer
TAYLOR KAY PHILLIPS, Writer
CHRISSY SHACKELFORD, Writer
HBO | MAX
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
JESSIE GASKELL, Written by
CONAN O’BRIEN, Written by
MATT O’BRIEN, Written by
MIKE SWEENEY, Written by
HBO | MAX
Conan O’Brien Must Go
Ireland
OUTSTANDING EMERGING MEDIA PROGRAM
FALLOUT: VAULT 33 PRIME VIDEO
Amazon MGM Studios
Kilter Films
Bethesda Studios
OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN EMERGING MEDIA PROGRAMMING
(Juried Award: All entrants are screened by a jury of appropriate peer group members and
one, more than one, or no award entry is awarded an Emmy.)
SILENT HILL: ASCENSION ASCENSION.COM
Genvid Entertainment
WHAT IF…? – AN IMMERSIVE STORY APPLE VISION PRO
Marvel Studios
ILM Immersive
Disney+
Dave Bushore, Director/Executive Producer
Shereif M. Fattouh, Producer/Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
DANIEL TIMMONS, Supervising Sound Editor
JEREMY S. BLOOM, Sound Designer
IAN CYMORE, Dialogue Editor
RYAN RUBIN, Music Editor
DISNEY+
Jim Henson Idea Man
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A DOCUMENTARY SERIES OR SPECIAL (ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SCORE)
DAVID FLEMING, Composer DISNEY+
Jim Henson Idea Man
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
RICKEY MINOR, Music Director ABC
The Oscars
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
MARK JENSEN, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer FX
Welcome To Wrexham
Giant Killers
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
GARY A. RIZZO, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
JOHN RAMPEY, Production Mixer
SABI TULOK, Production Mixer
DENNIS HAMLIN, Production Mixer
DISNEY+
The Beach Boys
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A VARIETY SERIES OR SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or no award.)
BRIAN RIORDAN, Re-Recording Music Mixer
PHIL DETOLVE, Re-Recording Mixer
PETER GARY, Music Mixer
BRIAN FLANZBAUM, Production Mixer
JOSH WEIBEL, Monitor Mixer
BRIAN RUGGLES, FOH Mixer
CBS
Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
SIERRA NEAL, Editor
PAUL CROWDER, ACE, Editor
DISNEY+
Jim Henson Idea Man
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR VARIETY PROGRAMMING
KELLY LYON, ACE, Editor
SEAN MCILRAITH, Editor
RYAN MCILRAITH, Editor
NETFLIX
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s In LA
Paranormal
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR VARIETY PROGRAMMING (SEGMENT)
CATHERINE TRASBORG, Editor COMEDY CENTRAL
The Daily Show
The Dailyshowography Of Vivek Ramaswamy:
Enter The RamaVerse
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR AN UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
MICHAEL BROWN, Editor
JOSH DRISKO, Editor
MICHAEL OLIVER, Editor
BRYAN ROWLAND, Editor
STEVE WELCH, Editor
FX
Welcome To Wrexham
Up The Town?
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A STRUCTURED REALITY OR COMPETITION PROGRAM
SEAN BASAMAN, Supervising Editor
JOHN M. LARSON, ACE, Supervising Editor
ROBERT M. MALACHOWSKI JR., ACE, Supervising Editor
MATT ANTELL, Editor
JOHN BALDINO, Editor
MATTHEW BLAIR, Editor
MELISSA SILVA BORDEN, Editor
WILLIAM FABIAN CASTRO, Editor
ANDREW CIANCIA, Editor
NICHOLAS DON VITO, Editor
GLEN EBESU, Editor
RICK ENRIQUE, Editor
GREG FITZSIMMONS, Editor
BRIAN FREUNDLICH, Editor
NOEL A. GUERRA, ACE, Editor
ALYSSA DRESSMAN LEHNER, Editor
JOHN HOMESLEY, Editor
OMEGA HSU, ACE, Editor
NIKI HUNTER, Editor
RYAN P. JAMES, Editor
LISE KEARNEY, Editor
TERRI MALONEY, Editor
JAMES J. MUNOZ, Editor
BARRY MURPHY, Editor
RICH REMIS, Editor
ROBBY THOMPSON, Editor
MATT WAFAIE, Editor
ERIC WISE, Editor
NBC
The Voice
Series Body Of Work
OUTSTANDING NARRATOR
ANGELA BASSETT, Narrator
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Queens
African Queens
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NONFICTION SERIES
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
BECKHAM
NETFLIX
John Battsek, Produced by
Nicola Howson, Produced by
Fisher Stevens, Produced by
Billie Shepherd, Produced by
David Gardner, Executive Producer
Gary Neville, Executive Producer
Jonathan Sides, Co-Executive Producer
Craig South, Co-Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NONFICTION SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
JIM HENSON IDEA MAN
DISNEY+
Brian Grazer, Produced by
Ron Howard, Produced by
Sara Bernstein, Produced by
Margaret Bodde, Produced by
Justin Wilkes, Produced by
Mark Monroe, Produced by
Christopher St. John, Produced by
OUTSTANDING STRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
SHARK TANK
ABC
Mark Burnett, Executive Producer
Clay Newbill, Executive Producer
Yun Lingner, Executive Producer
Max Swedlow, Executive Producer
Mark Cuban, Executive Producer
Lori Greiner, Executive Producer
Kevin O’Leary, Executive Producer
Barbara Corcoran, Executive Producer
Daymond John, Executive Producer
Robert Herjavec, Executive Producer
Brandon Wallace, Executive Producer
Becky Blitz, Supervising Producer
Shaun Polakow, Senior Producer
Shawn Aly, Senior Producer
Andrew Kimmel, Senior Producer
OUTSTANDING UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
WELCOME TO WREXHAM FX
Josh Drisko, Executive Producer
Bryan Rowland, Executive Producer
Jeff Luini, Executive Producer
Alan Bloom, Executive Producer
Andrew Fried, Executive Producer
Sarina Roma, Executive Producer
Dane Lillegard, Executive Producer
Nicholas Frenkel, Executive Producer
George Dewey, Executive Producer
Rob McElhenney, Executive Producer
Ryan Reynolds, Executive Producer
Humphrey Ker, Executive Producer
Miloš Balać, Co-Executive Producer
Aaron Lovell, Producer
Patrick McGarvey, Supervising Producer
Shannon Owen, Producer
Liz Spano, Producer
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT IN DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
(Juried Award: All entrants are screened by a jury of appropriate peer group members and one, more than one, or no award entry is awarded an Emmy.)
GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT
HBO | MAX
Joe Brewster, Produced by
Michèle Stephenson, Produced by
Tommy Oliver, Produced by
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
ALAN CUMMING, Host
PEACOCK
The Traitors
OUTSTANDING HOSTED NONFICTION SERIES OR SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
MY NEXT GUEST WITH DAVID LETTERMAN AND JOHN MULANEY
NETFLIX
Tommy Alter, Producer
Tom Keaney, Executive Producer
Mary Barclay, Executive Producer
Michael Steed, Executive Producer
Séamus Murphy-Mitchell, Executive Producer
Justin Wilkes, Executive Producer
Jake Fuller, Executive Producer
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION PROGRAM
AMANDA MCBAINE, Directed By
JESSE MOSS, Directed By
APPLE TV+
Girls State
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN/LIGHTING DIRECTION FOR A VARIETY SERIES
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
GEOFFREY AMORAL, Lighting Director
RICK MCGUINNESS, Lighting Director
TREVOR BROWN, Moving Light Programmer
TIM STASSE, Moving Light Programmer
WILLIAM MCGUINNESS, Chief Lighting Technician
FRANK GRISANTI, Video Control
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Kristen Wiig
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN/LIGHTING DIRECTION FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
STEVE COHEN, Lighting Designer
MARK FOFFANO, Lighting Consultant
JUSTIN CHEATHAM, Lighting Director
TAD INFERRERA, Lighting Director
ADRIAN BASSETT, Chief Lighting Technician
CBS
Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND CAMERAWORK FOR A SERIES
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
BILL DIGIOVANNI, Technical Director
JOHN PINTO, Camera
PAUL CANGIALOSI, Camera
ANTHONY TARANTINO, Camera
DAVE DRISCOLL, Camera
BRIAN PHRANER, Camera
DANIEL ERBECK, Camera
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Timothée Chalamet
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND CAMERAWORK FOR A SPECIAL
(Area Award: Possibility of one or more than one award.)
JON PRETNAR, Technical Director
ROB BALTON, Camera
MARK BRITT, Camera
BOBBY DEL RUSSO, Camera
DANIEL ERBECK, Camera
NICK FAYO, Camera
PETE FORREST, Camera
JONNY HARKINS, Camera
SHAUN HARKINS, Camera
RAY HOOVER, Camera
JOHN KOSMOCHEWSKI, Camera
JAY KULICK, Camera
KEVIN MURPHY, Camera
LYN NOLAND, Camera
JIMMY O’DONNELL, Camera
CHRIS PIAZZA, Camera
MARK RENAUDIN, Camera
ED STAEBLER, Camera
MARK WHITMAN, Camera
RICH YORK, Camera
JEFF SIEGEL, Camera
BRETT TURNBULL, Camera
J.M. HURLEY, Video Control
MICHAEL MAIATICO, Video Control
CBS
Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
CIAN O’CLERY, Directed By
NETFLIX
Love On The Spectrum
Episode 7
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
HAMISH HAMILTON, Directed By
ABC
The Oscars
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
LIZ PATRICK, Directed By
NBC
Saturday Night Live
Host: Ryan Gosling
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SPECIAL (PRE-RECORDED)
DICK VAN DYKE 98 YEARS OF MAGIC
CBS
Craig Plestis, Executive Producer
Chris Wagner, Executive Producer
Clara Plestis, Executive Producer
Ashley Edens, Executive Producer
Deena Katz, Executive Producer
Arlene Van Dyke, Executive Producer
Stephanie Wagner, Supervising Producer
Brittany Cherry, Producer
Ariel Kubit, Producer
Chelsea Gonnering, Line Producer
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SPECIAL (LIVE)
THE OSCARS
ABC
Raj Kapoor, Executive Producer
Molly McNearney, Executive Producer
Katy Mullan, Executive Producer
Rob Paine, Co-Executive Producer
Taryn Hurd, Producer
Sarah Levine Hall, Producer
Jimmy Kimmel, Host
Changing OpenAI’s Nonprofit Structure Would Raise Questions and Heightened Scrutiny
The artificial intelligence maker OpenAI may face a costly and inconvenient reckoning with its nonprofit origins even as its valuation recently exploded to $157 billion.
Nonprofit tax experts have been closely watching OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, since last November when its board ousted and rehired CEO Sam Altman. Now, some believe the company may have reached — or exceeded — the limits of its corporate structure, under which it is organized as a nonprofit whose mission is to develop artificial intelligence to benefit "all of humanity" but with for-profit subsidiaries under its control.
Jill Horwitz, a professor in law and medicine at UCLA School of Law who has studied OpenAI, said that when two sides of a joint venture between a nonprofit and a for-profit come into conflict, the charitable purpose must always win out.
"It's the job of the board first, and then the regulators and the court, to ensure that the promise that was made to the public to pursue the charitable interest is kept," she said.
Altman recently confirmed that OpenAI is considering a corporate restructure but did not offer any specifics. A source told The Associated Press, however, that the company is looking at the possibility of turning OpenAI into a public benefit corporation. No final decision has been made by the board and the timing of the shift hasn't been determined, the source said.
In the event the nonprofit loses control of its subsidiaries, some experts think OpenAI may have to pay for the interests and assets that had belonged to the nonprofit. So far, most observers agree OpenAI has carefully orchestrated its relationships between its nonprofit and its various other corporate entities to try to avoid that.
However, they also see... Read More