- On February 23, 2026, Bret Taylor—Chairman of the OpenAI Board—declared that he wants members to write their own meeting preparation materials without using generative AI like ChatGPT.
- Speaking on the “Uncapped with Jack Altman” podcast, he emphasized that well-written, concise, and clear documents are evidence of sharp strategic thinking.
- Taylor prioritizes text-based documents over slide decks, as writing forces the author to personally synthesize and distill information before entering the boardroom.
- He believes that when materials are read in advance, meetings can focus on core issues rather than reviewing revenue figures for the first time.
- Having served as co-CEO of Salesforce and co-founder of the AI startup Sierra, Taylor’s stance on limiting AI in preparation has garnered significant attention.
- According to him, writing without AI assistance is a “cognitive exercise” that helps board members clarify their perspectives and strategic logic.
- He requires members to read the documents beforehand to ensure discussions go straight to critical content.
- Comparing his approach to Jeff Bezos—who famously favors six-page memos—Taylor values brevity as a sign of thorough reflection and respect for shareholders.
- He cited the famous quote: “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter”—implying that conciseness requires more effort.
- Nevertheless, Taylor predicts that in the future, regulators may require the deployment of AI agents to mitigate risks inherent in relying solely on human oversight in regulated markets.
Conclusion: OpenAI’s Board Chairman declared that he wants members to write their own meeting prep materials without using generative AI like ChatGPT. He asserted that writing without AI sharpens strategic thinking, improves discussion quality, and demonstrates respect for shareholders. He prefers text over slides, as writing forces synthesis and distillation of information. Despite limiting AI in preparation, he predicts regulators will eventually mandate AI agents to reduce the risks of pure human oversight.
