Former Harvard president and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has stepped down from the OpenAI board.
His resignation came just days after Congress released documents showing he had a close relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers said on Monday that he would step back from all public commitments, explaining that he wants “to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”
Summers says he is ‘deeply ashamed’
Speaking to CNN, Summers said he will pause all public appearances, though he will continue teaching at Harvard. He told CNN he is “deeply ashamed” of his relationship with Epstein.
“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognise the pain they have caused,” Summers said. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Epstein,” he added.
Harvard launches investigation
Summers has faced growing criticism since the US House Oversight Committee released documents showing ongoing communication between him and Epstein over several years.
Harvard University, where Summers remains a professor, has announced it will launch a new investigation into his ties to Epstein. The Harvard Crimson reported the probe on Tuesday.
OpenAI’s board responded to Summers’ resignation, saying, “Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI Board of Directors, and we respect his decision. We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the Board.”
A Harvard spokesperson confirmed the university is reviewing new information about Harvard individuals mentioned in the Epstein documents.
Jonathan L. Swain, a university spokesperson, wrote in a statement to The Crimson that “the University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.”