Technology News
Sir George Osborne, the former senior Conservative politician, has joined the global artificial intelligence giant OpenAI.
Osborne will lead the “OpenAI for Countries” program, which aims to help governments increase their capacity in the field of artificial intelligence.
Announcing his new role, which will be based in London, Osborne said he considers the offer from the company a privilege.
“I recently asked myself the following question: what is the most exciting and forward-looking company in the world right now? And I think the answer is OpenAI,” Osborne said in a post on X.
The announcement comes amid reports of strained negotiations between the UK and the United States over a government-level technology deal involving broader cooperation on artificial intelligence.
OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, said Osborne’s decision to join the company reflects “a shared belief that artificial intelligence is becoming critical infrastructure, and that early decisions about how it is built, governed, and deployed will shape the economy and geopolitics for years to come.”
The OpenAI for Countries program is designed to work with governments “to ensure global AI systems are built on democratic values,” Lehane wrote on LinkedIn. To date, the program has engaged with more than 50 countries.
He added that Osborne will work with governments to help develop AI infrastructure, build AI awareness, and use AI to improve public services.
“In his new role, George will help expand existing partnerships and create new ones,” Lehane noted.
Osborne, who is also a podcast host and a trustee of the British Museum, joined the company following discussions with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap.
He said the two are “exceptional leaders who care deeply about their mission to ensure that the power of artificial intelligence is developed actively and responsibly, and that the benefits it brings are felt by everyone.”
Osborne added: “This is exactly what the OpenAI for Countries initiative aims to achieve—helping communities around the world share in the opportunity offered by this powerful technology.”
Osborne said he is leaving his current position at financial advisory firm Evercore, a move that caused “considerable disappointment.”
He was also editor of The Evening Standard newspaper from 2017 to 2020.
Osborne’s new role was first reported by The Financial Times.
The announcement comes as Downing Street confirmed it remains in active talks with the US government over a major technology deal.
The deal, announced last September, included £31 billion in spending by major technology companies such as Nvidia and Google.
However, reports have since pointed to “broader disagreements” between the United States and the United Kingdom, causing the negotiations to stall.
Osborne’s appointment comes at a time of rising AI investment, amid “growing concerns about a potential AI market bubble.”
Earlier this month, the Bank of England warned of a “potential sharp correction” in the value of the largest technology companies, noting that the growth of the AI sector could contribute to the creation of billions of dollars in debt over the next five years.
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