OpenAI, the creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, removed the word "safely" from its mission statement, coinciding with its shift from a non-profit to a profit-driven business model, according to a review of its latest IRS disclosure form released in November 2025. This change, along with the company facing several lawsuits related to its product's safety, raises concerns about the company's priorities.
The alteration in OpenAI's mission statement, which previously aimed to build AI that "safely benefits humanity," was noted in an analysis of the company's 2024 IRS filing. This shift occurred as OpenAI transitioned into a business structure increasingly focused on generating financial returns. The company's evolving priorities come at a time when AI safety is under scrutiny, and the company is facing legal challenges related to the safety of its products.
In other news, RZC Investments, the private equity firm funded by Walmart heirs Tom and Steuart Walton, paused new investments and is reconsidering its future structure, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A spokesperson from RZC confirmed the pause. The fund, based in Bentonville, Ark., and focused on outdoor companies, saw one of its partners, Don Huffner, leave last year and relinquish his board seats. Steuart Walton currently serves on the retail giant's board.
Meanwhile, in February 2026, the world witnessed a significant economic shock. Fifteen years after venture capitalist Marc Andreessen predicted software's dominance, the market experienced a $1 trillion shock. Andreessen's 2011 essay, "Why Software Is Eating the World," foresaw software companies taking over various industries. The prophecy was fulfilled, with software dominating retail (Amazon), video (Netflix), music (Spotify), and telecommunications (Skype).
In other developments, a recent study suggests that moderate caffeine intake might reduce the risk of dementia. A study of 130,000 people linked coffee consumption to slower brain aging.
Finally, the transatlantic alliance is under scrutiny. U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group, discussed the alliance's future at the Munich Security Conference.
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