George Osborne joins OpenAI to lead global government partnerships initiative
Former UK chancellor George Osborne has joined OpenAI in a senior leadership role, taking charge of its OpenAI for Countries initiative as governments increasingly treat artificial intelligence as critical public infrastructure.
OpenAI has appointed former UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne as managing director and head of OpenAI for Countries, marking a high-profile move that links national government strategy, AI infrastructure, and workforce skills development.
The appointment comes as governments worldwide accelerate efforts to shape how AI is governed, deployed, and integrated into public services such as education and health.
Osborne’s move into AI leadership
Osborne announced the role change in a post on X, confirming he will be based in London and lead OpenAI’s engagement with governments.
“I recently asked myself the question: what's the most exciting and promising company in the world right now? The answer I believe is OpenAI,” he said on X.
In the same post, Osborne confirmed he will serve as managing director and head of OpenAI for Countries, describing the role as focused on ensuring the benefits of AI are shared widely and developed responsibly.
Osborne previously served as UKV chancellor of the exchequer from 2010 to 2016, where he played a central role in shaping the UK’s economic and fiscal policy following the global financial crisis. Since leaving frontline politics, he has held senior roles across media, finance, and public policy.
What OpenAI for Countries focuses on
OpenAI for Countries was launched in May to formalize OpenAI’s work with national governments on AI infrastructure, policy, and skills. The initiative positions AI as critical infrastructure, comparable to energy, finance, or communications systems, with long-term implications for economic growth and geopolitical alignment.
Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer at OpenAI, outlineD the rationale behind the initiative in a LinkedIn post, saying: “I’ve spent enough time in government to know that former Chancellors of the Exchequer don’t step into new roles lightly.”
Lehane added that early decisions about how AI is governed and deployed will shape global economics and geopolitics, noting:
“George Osborne’s decision to join OpenAI and lead our growing OpenAI for Countries initiative reflects a shared belief that AI is becoming critical infrastructure.”
According to Lehane, the initiative works directly with governments to support local AI capacity, skills development, and public service transformation, saying OpenAI for Countries focuses on areas including workforce training, AI literacy, public sector use cases in health and education, safety and governance standards, and building local innovation ecosystems across universities and industry.
Growing government demand for AI partnerships
According to Lehane OpenAI has already engaged with more than 50 countries through the initiative, with representatives from more than 30 governments expressing interest in joining. OpenAI has announced partnerships with Argentina, Australia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others.
“With George at the helm, OpenAI for Countries can create rare win-win-win outcomes,” Lehane wrote, pointing to benefits for governments, democratic AI governance, and economic participation in what he describes as a pivotal moment for global AI development.
For the education and skills sector, the appointment signals deeper alignment between national policy, AI infrastructure, and workforce readiness. As governments move beyond experimentation toward system-wide deployment, OpenAI for Countries positions itself as a vehicle for shaping how AI supports public services, education systems, and long-term economic strategy.
