In a new blog post, Openai warns against “illegal opportunities to touch Openai by various means,” including vehicles of special purpose, known as SPVS.
“We recommend that you be careful if you are contacted by a company that claims you have access to Openai, including selling profits from SPVs exposed to Openai's fairness,” the company wrote. The blog post admits that “not all Openai Equity (…) offers are problematic,” but the company says it is “trying to circumvent transfer restrictions.”
“If that's the case, the sale will not be recognized and will not have any financial value to you,” Openai says.
Investors are increasingly using SPVs (pooling money for a one-time investment) as a way to buy Hot AI startups, urging other VCs to criticize them as “tourist champs” vehicles.
Business Insider reports that Openai is not the only major AI company seeking to crack down on SPVs. Humanity is told to Menlo Ventures that they must invest in future rounds using their own capital rather than SPV.