Say what you want about Summers specifically but I think it's a good idea getting some economists on the board. They are academics but focused on practical, important issues like loss of jobs and what that means for the economy and society. Up until now it seems like the board members have either been AI doomers with no practical experience or Silicon Valley types that inevitably have conflicts of interest, because everybody is starting their own AI venture now.

If we achieve AGI it has the potential to capture most (if not all) economic value. Larry Summers was a deliberate choice indeed.

It seems US Attorneys were calling the Open AI board.

It helps having somebody with government ties on board now.