One-time economic leader the Harvard professor is departing from the board at the ChatGPT creator, just days after a collection of electronic messages between him and notorious criminal the disgraced billionaire became widely known.
Summers commented in a statement that he was "appreciative for the privilege to have participated, optimistic about the promise of the organization, and eagerly await tracking their progress".
The former Harvard president, who formerly headed the prestigious university, declared on earlier this week that he would be withdrawing from public commitments due to his connections with the convicted sex offender.
Message Exchange
The newly public communications showed that the economist corresponded with Epstein until the eve of the financier's 2019 detention for alleged trafficking of underage individuals.
In a separate statement, the technology organization expressed it respected the economist's decision to step down.
"We value his significant contributions and the viewpoint he provided to the Board," OpenAI commented.
Political Context
This announcement comes after the entire Congress of the US legislature decided on this week to pass a measure that would compel the Department of Justice to disclose its records on Epstein.
The legislation will afterward proceed to the office of the White House for signature. The President has said he expects to sign the measure, after changing his position on the issue following pressure from his supporters.
Email Contents
A group of financier-linked messages made public by the House Oversight Committee days ago included several prominent individuals in the billionaire's previous network, without suggesting any legal wrongdoing by those individuals.
The messages showed that the professor and the financier dined together frequently, with Epstein often seeking to introduce the official to influential international personalities.
Personal Response
After the emails were shared with the general audience, he said he took "total ownership for my ill-advised choice to persist in interacting with Mr Epstein".
He continued that he hoped "to reestablish trust and mend bonds with the people closest to me".
Career Background
Summers occupied senior posts under two Democratic presidents; acting as treasury secretary under President Clinton, and as director of the National Economic Council under the former leader.
He presided over the institution from five years and continues to be a faculty member there. When announcing his departure from public roles recently on Monday, he stated he would maintain his teaching commitments.
Further Repercussions
Following the economist's statement on Monday, the Washington think tank, a liberal research organization in the capital where he was a senior fellow, confirmed that Summers was no longer connected with the group.
Summers joined the directorate of OpenAI, which creates the AI chatbot, in 2023 - following a failed attempt to oust its chief executive the company leader.
