OpenAI Appoints Adebayo Ogunlesi to Board of Directors

OpenAI, one of the top artificial intelligence research organizations in the world, announced today the appointment of Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi to its Board of Directors. Ogunlesi is known for his leadership roles in global infrastructure investments and corporate finance, where he has deep experience that can be leveraged to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the betterment of humanity.

Adebayo Ogunlesi is the Founding Partner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an infrastructure investment firm managing over $100 billion in assets. GIP’s portfolio includes significant infrastructure assets such as airports, ports, and energy facilities worldwide. In 2024, GIP was acquired by BlackRock, where Ogunlesi now serves as a Senior Managing Director, continuing to influence global infrastructure investment strategies. 

Prior to founding GIP in 2006, Ogunlesi spent 23 years at Credit Suisse where he held several senior positions – Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Client Officer of the Investment Banking Division. He is an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, also having served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. 

Ogunlesi’s academic credentials are equally impressive, with degrees from Oxford University and Harvard Law School, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. OPENAI
Strategic Alignment with OpenAI’s Mission

OpenAI’s choice of Ogunlesi is a strategic move to tap into his expertise in infrastructure and global markets. As AI technologies continue to advance at breakneck speed, the need for robust infrastructure to support large-scale AI models becomes increasingly critical. 

Ogunlesi’s experience in managing and investing in infrastructure projects positions him to provide valuable insights into scaling OpenAI’s operations and ensuring the resilience of its AI platforms.

Bret Taylor, Chairman of the Board of OpenAI, said, “Bayo has an outstanding track record of driving success in organizations with a global reach, navigating complex and dynamic commercial landscapes. We’re honored to welcome him to the Board.”

Implications for AI Infrastructure Development

Integrating AI into every sphere of activity would require major investment in infrastructure, especially in data centers and sources of energy. Ogunlesi’s latest move, which involves launching a $30 billion fund with BlackRock, Microsoft, and Nvidia to build data centers, clearly highlights his dedication to the cause of infrastructure that facilitates AI.

His appointment to the OpenAI board of directors presents a vision of expansion for the development of the organization’s infrastructure capability, in order to meet the needs for computations as advanced AI is researched and deployed. This strategic alignment matters given OpenAI’s development of large-scale AI models that significantly call for computational resources.

Navigating the Intersection of AI and Global Markets

With extensive experience working within global finance, Ogunlesi brings a valuable perspective to the complexities of economic landscapes that influence AI adoption and integration. His insights on global market strategies will guide efforts from OpenAI in working with international partners and navigating regulatory environments for responsible deployment of AI technologies worldwide.

In his statement, Ogunlesi showed excitement about being able to contribute to the mission of OpenAI and highlighted the importance of thoughtful strategies and infrastructure investment in unlocking AI’s full potential and delivering its benefits responsibly.

Strengthening OpenAI’s Governance

Ogunlesi joins the board of directors at OpenAI with distinguished members, who are well experienced in AI safety, cybersecurity, regulatory affairs, economics, and governance. His appointment further adds to the strength of the board’s collective expertise, particularly on infrastructure development and global market strategies. The governance structure will then be better equipped to guide the progress of OpenAI toward AGI while making sure its advancement benefits the larger good of society.