OpenAI clarifies ‘acquisition’ offer for Irish teen's startup idea was a joke

OpenAI has clarified that a statement made by its Ireland policy lead Derek Nolan during a tech accelerator event in Dublin was a joke. The incident occurred last Thursday when Nolan purportedly offered to acquire 16-year-old Conall O Reilly's startup concept, which aimed to build a free, open, and decentralized internet. The OpenAI spokesman confirmed to the Irish Independent that Nolan had been joking around with the audience of teenagers.

Despite the appearance of a potential acquisition, OpenAI reiterated to the Independent that there was no intention to buy the company. The comments were made during the Patch summer program wrap-up speech, a scheme sponsored by OpenAI to assist 16-21-year-olds in developing startup ideas.