NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said Wednesday that he is resigning from the board of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. His departure comes in the wake of publicly released emails showing he maintained a friendly correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers announced earlier this week that he would step back from public commitments. He described himself as “deeply ashamed” of having carried on his communications with Epstein.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, Summers said his resignation from OpenAI was “in line” with that decision. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress,” he said.
OpenAI’s board issued its own statement, noting that it “respects his decision” to resign. The board expressed appreciation for the “many contributions” Summers made while serving.
Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023. His appointment came during a time of turmoil, after the company’s board briefly ousted CEO Sam Altman and later reinstated him.
The House Oversight Committee recently released a trove of documents from Epstein’s estate, including hundreds of emails between Epstein and Summers. Some of the exchanges were personal. At one point, Summers asked Epstein for romantic advice, and Epstein referred to himself as his “wing man.”
Even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, the emails show Summers and Epstein stayed in touch.
Summers’s resignation from OpenAI is not his only move amid the fallout. He has announced plans to leave several other high-profile roles. These include a fellowship at the Center for American Progress, a role with Yale’s Budget Lab, and his work with other policy institutions.
At the same time, Harvard University has launched a new investigation into Summers. The school is reviewing his connections to Epstein, as well as other university figures mentioned in the newly released documents.
In his statement, Summers took personal responsibility for his “misguided decision” to continue communicating with Epstein. He said he regrets the pain his actions may have caused. Though he is stepping away from many public roles, Summers said he intends to keep teaching at Harvard.
Summers’s exit adds to growing criticism around the elite networks that Epstein cultivated. His case raises tough questions for organizations about judgment, accountability, and how they vet their senior leaders.
OpenAI, for its part, now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust in its board. Meanwhile, Harvard’s investigation into Summers may uncover more about how his relationship with Epstein developed — and whether the university should reconsider its ties.
