The move surprised Tame Apple Press, which praised Jobs’ Mob for getting its feet under the board table without having to front up with any cash. Meanwhile, Microsoft invested $13 billion in the ChatGPT creator.

Microsoft, which invested $13 billion in the ChatGPT creator, will withdraw from its observer role on the board, the company said in a letter to OpenAI.

Apple was due to take up a similar role, but an OpenAI spokesperson said the startup won't have board observers after Microsoft's departure. 

Instead of having board observer roles, OpenAI plans to host regular meetings with key strategic partners, including Microsoft and Apple, as well as investors Thrive Capital and Khosla Ventures. This new approach is under the leadership of OpenAI’s first Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar.

The decision comes in the context of concerns expressed by regulators in the US and Europe about Microsoft's influence over OpenAI. This regulatory pressure has led to one of the world's most valuable companies being forced to demonstrate that it's maintaining a healthy distance.

Microsoft has integrated OpenAI's services into its Windows and Copilot AI platforms and, like other major US tech companies, is counting on the new technology to drive growth.