Larry Summers, once a titan of academia and government, has just walked away from the OpenAI board after emails exposed his eyebrow-raising friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This bombshell story boils down to Summers, a former Harvard president and Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton, resigning from OpenAI amid fallout over his ties to Epstein, alongside stepping back from other high-profile roles, as Breitbart reports.

Let’s rewind to November 2023, when Summers first joined the OpenAI board during a chaotic period that saw CEO Sam Altman briefly ousted and then reinstated.

Summers’ Turbulent Start at OpenAI

As a fresh board member, Summers was tasked with conducting an internal review of Altman’s firing, a role that thrust him into the spotlight at a tech giant shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

Fast forward to recently, when emails released by U.S. lawmakers unveiled Summers’ long-standing connection to Epstein, detailing exchanges that included discussions on public perceptions of sexual harassment claims.

Suddenly, the man who once steered economic policy for a nation found himself in a storm of public and professional backlash over a relationship many would call, at best, a serious lapse in judgment.

Epstein Connection Sparks Resignation Wave

Bloomberg reported that Summers announced his resignation from OpenAI on a Wednesday, aligning with his earlier pledge to step away from public commitments after the email revelations.

This isn’t just a one-off exit -- Summers is also parting ways with gigs at Bloomberg TV as a paid contributor and seeing his contract with the New York Times opinion section go unrenewed.

He’s even relinquishing roles like board chair at the Center for Global Development, a fellowship with the Center for American Progress, and a position with Yale’s Budget Lab, signaling a full retreat from the public eye.

Summers Expresses Regret Over Epstein Ties

Now, let’s hear from the man himself: “I am deeply ashamed regarding the release of the emails,” Summers admitted, taking full responsibility for what he called a “misguided decision” to keep communicating with Epstein.

That’s a heavy mea culpa, but in a culture obsessed with canceling first and asking questions later, one wonders if shame alone can rebuild trust -- or if this is just another scalp for the progressive outrage machine to claim.

Summers also described his OpenAI resignation as “in line” with his previous announcement to withdraw from public roles, suggesting he saw the writing on the wall and acted accordingly.

OpenAI Responds to Sudden Departure

OpenAI, for its part, issued a polite nod to Summers’ exit: “Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI Board of Directors, and we respect his decision,” the company stated, adding appreciation for his contributions.

That’s a classy send-off, but it’s hard not to smirk at the corporate speak -- does anyone really believe OpenAI wanted to keep a board member tangled in such a PR nightmare, no matter how sharp his mind?

As conservatives, we often rail against the woke mob’s rush to judgment, but let’s be fair: associating with someone like Epstein, even post-conviction, isn’t a minor misstep -- it’s a glaring blind spot for a public figure of Summers’ stature. Still, his decision to step back shows accountability, a trait too rare in today’s elite circles where excuses often reign supreme. So, while the left might cheer this downfall, perhaps there’s room for a measured perspective that acknowledges both the error and the response.