Jason Kwon (OpenAI) Wiki, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Education, Wife & More
Jason Kwon is the Chief Strategy Officer of OpenAI, a research organization that aims to create artificial intelligence that can be trusted and used for good. He is also a former general counsel of Y Combinator Continuity, a venture capital fund that invests in startups that have gone through the Y Combinator accelerator program.
He has a background in law, business, and technology, and has worked as a GC and CSO at ZeroDown, a real estate startup that helps people buy homes without a down payment. He is also an angel investor and advisor to several companies in the AI, blockchain, and fintech sectors.
Early Life and Education
Jason Kwon was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the United States when he was six years old. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, and attended Georgetown University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Economics in 2003.
He then went on to study law at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2006. He was also a member of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal and the Berkeley Journal of International Law.
Jason Kwon Wiki/Bio
| Name | Jason Kwon |
| Date of Birth | N/A |
| Place of Birth | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Occupation | Chief Strategy Officer of OpenAI |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA), University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
| Spouse | Jennifer Kwon |
| Children | Two |
| Net Worth | Estimated at several million dollars |
| Social Media Links | Instagram: jasonkwon LinkedIn: jason-kwon-212454 Twitter: jasonkwon |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career
After graduating from law school, Jason worked as a software engineer and product manager at several startups, including Zvents, a local search and event discovery platform, and Topsy, a social media analytics company that was acquired by Apple in 2013. He then joined Goodwin Procter, a leading law firm, as an associate attorney in the technology transactions group, where he advised clients such as Reddit, Twilio, Westfield Labs, Blue Jeans Network, and Curse on various legal matters related to intellectual property, licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital financing.
In 2016, Kwon became the general counsel of Y Combinator Continuity, the growth-stage investment arm of Y Combinator, one of the most influential startup accelerators in the world. He was responsible for overseeing the legal aspects of the fund’s investments, portfolio management, and operations, as well as providing strategic advice to the fund’s partners and portfolio companies. He also helped launch and manage the YC Fellowship, a program that provides funding and mentorship to early-stage founders.
In 2019, Jason Kwon joined ZeroDown, a San Francisco-based startup that offers a new way for people to buy homes without a down payment. He served as the general counsel and chief sales officer of the company, leading the legal, sales, and customer success teams. He also helped raise over $100 million in funding from investors such as Goodwater Capital, QED Investors, and Y Combinator.
In 2021, Jason became the general counsel of OpenAI, a research organization that was co-founded by Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, and other prominent tech entrepreneurs and investors. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial intelligence is aligned with human values and can be used for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI is known for developing groundbreaking AI systems, such as ChatGPT, a conversational agent that can generate realistic and coherent text responses, and DALL-E, a generative model that can create images from text descriptions. As the general counsel of OpenAI, Kwon oversees the legal, policy, and governance issues related to the organization’s research, products, and partnerships. He also advises the organization’s leadership and board of directors on strategic and ethical matters.
In 2023, Jason Kwon was promoted to the chief strategy officer of OpenAI, a newly created role that reflects his expanded responsibilities and influence within the organization. As the chief strategy officer, Jason is in charge of developing and executing the organization’s vision, mission, and goals, as well as managing its external relations and communications. He also leads the organization’s efforts to create and promote safe, powerful, and beneficial AI for everyone.
Personal Life, Spouse, and Interests
Jason Kwon is married to Jennifer Kwon, a former product manager at Google and Facebook, and a co-founder and CEO of Mira, a startup that provides personalized fertility care and insights. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and live in San Francisco, California. Kwon is an avid traveler, reader, and sports fan.
He enjoys playing basketball, golf, and tennis, and watching the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Rams. He is also passionate about supporting causes and organizations that promote education, diversity, and social justice.
Net Worth and Salary
Kwon’s net worth and salary are not publicly disclosed, but based on his career achievements and positions, it can be estimated that he has a net worth of several million dollars. As the chief strategy officer of OpenAI, he likely earns a competitive salary that reflects his seniority and expertise.
He also has equity stakes in several startups that he has invested in or advised, such as Klarity, a legal services platform that uses AI to review and negotiate contracts, and Anthropic, a research organization that focuses on creating general and trustworthy AI.
The role of OpenAI’s chief strategy officer in the board’s negotiations with Sam Altman and Anthropic
OpenAI, the non-profit artificial intelligence research company that created the popular chatbot ChatGPT, has been in turmoil since the sudden departure of its CEO Sam Altman in November 2023. Altman, who was one of the co-founders of OpenAI and a former president of Y Combinator, was accused by the board of directors of not being candid in his communications with them, leading to a loss of confidence in his leadership. Altman’s exit was followed by the resignation of several other key executives, including co-founder and president Greg Brockman, who announced his decision on X.
However, according to recent reports, the board of directors is now in talks with Altman to return as CEO, after facing backlash from hundreds of OpenAI employees who threatened to quit or join Microsoft, which is a major investor and partner of OpenAI. The board is also considering merging OpenAI with Anthropic, a rival AI startup founded by former OpenAI research director Dario Amodei, who left the company in 2022 over disagreements on the direction and ethics of AI research.
One of the key figures in the board’s discussions with Altman is Jason Kwon, the chief strategy officer of OpenAI and a former general counsel of the company. Kwon, who has a background in software engineering, law, and venture capital, is seen as a trusted advisor and mediator between Altman and the board, as well as a visionary leader who can help shape the future of OpenAI and its mission to create safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Kwon’s Background and Achievements
Jason Kwon joined OpenAI as its general counsel in 2021, after serving as the general counsel of Y Combinator Continuity, the investment fund of the prestigious startup accelerator that backed OpenAI. Kwon also worked as an assistant general counsel of Khosla Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm that focuses on technology and innovation. Before that, he was an associate attorney at Goodwin Procter, a leading law firm that specializes in technology transactions. Kwon also has experience as a software engineer and product manager, having worked at companies such as Google, Facebook, and Dropbox.
As the general counsel of OpenAI, Kwon was responsible for overseeing the legal, regulatory, and policy aspects of the company’s AI research and deployment. He also played a crucial role in the formation of OpenAI LP, the capped-profit subsidiary of OpenAI that was created in 2019 to enable the company to raise more capital and attract more talent, while still maintaining its non-profit mission and governance. Kwon also helped negotiate the $1 billion investment deal with Microsoft in 2019, which gave OpenAI access to Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform and other resources.
Kwon was promoted to chief strategy officer of OpenAI in 2023, after the departure of Altman. In this role, Kwon is in charge of developing and executing the long-term vision and strategy of OpenAI, as well as leading the company’s strategic initiatives and partnerships. Kwon is also involved in the company’s research and product development, especially in the areas of generative AI and natural language processing. Kwon is one of the main architects of ChatGPT, the groundbreaking chatbot that uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model to generate realistic and engaging conversations with users. ChatGPT, which was launched in late 2022, has become one of the most popular and influential AI products in the world, with millions of users and thousands of developers.
Role in the board’s discussions with Sam Altman
According to sources familiar with the matter, Jason Kwon is one of the key players in the board’s discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO of OpenAI. Kwon, who has a close relationship with Altman, is seen as a bridge between Altman and the board, as well as a voice of reason and compromise. Kwon is also one of the few executives who stayed loyal to Altman after his exit, and who shares Altman’s vision of creating AGI that is aligned with human values and beneficial to humanity.
Kwon is reportedly advocating for Altman’s return, arguing that Altman is the best person to lead OpenAI and its ambitious mission, given his experience, expertise, and passion for AI. Kwon is also highlighting Altman’s achievements as the CEO of OpenAI, such as launching ChatGPT, securing the Microsoft deal, and expanding the company’s research and product portfolio. Kwon is also emphasizing Altman’s popularity and support among the OpenAI employees, who have expressed their dissatisfaction and frustration with the board’s decision to oust Altman.
