4chan founder Chris Poole stated he regrets his encounter with Jeffrey Epstein, while OpenAI removed the word "safely" from its mission statement, according to multiple reports. These developments, alongside a pause in investments by a private equity firm funded by the Walton family and ongoing scrutiny of Prince Andrew, highlight a week of diverse news stories.
Poole, the creator of the online message board 4chan, told The Verge he regrets ever encountering Epstein. The Verge reported that the close timing of Epstein's contact with Poole and the launch of the politically incorrect message board /pol/, which became a breeding ground for QAnon and white supremacist ideologies, was a point of concern.
Meanwhile, OpenAI, the maker of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has removed the word "safely" from its mission statement, according to Hacker News. This change, noted in its latest IRS disclosure form released in November 2025, coincided with the company's shift from a nonprofit organization to a business increasingly focused on profits. OpenAI currently faces several lawsuits related to its products' safety.
In other news, RZC Investments, the private equity firm funded by Walmart heirs Tom and Steuart Walton, has paused new investments and is reconsidering the fund's future structure, according to Fortune. A spokesperson from RZC confirmed the pause. The fund, based in Bentonville, Ark., and focused on outdoor companies, saw one of its two partners, Don Huffner, leave last year.
Prince Andrew is also facing scrutiny. Multiple sources, including BBC Business, reported that he is accused of sharing a Treasury briefing on Icelandic banking problems with a business contact in 2010. This follows previous allegations of sharing confidential documents with Jeffrey Epstein, raising concerns about the misuse of his public role. The Cabinet Office is not disputing the authenticity of the emails, and Thames Valley Police are assessing potential misconduct in public office.
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