Aug 8 (Reuters) - OpenAI appointed Zico Kolter,

professor and director of the machine learning department at

Carnegie Mellon University, to its board, the Microsoft ( MSFT )-backed

AI startup said on Thursday.

Kolter, formerly the chief data scientist at C3.ai ( AI ),

currently serves as the chief expert at Bosch and chief

technical adviser at Gray Swan - a startup specializing in AI

safety and security.

Kolter, whose work predominantly focuses on AI safety, will

also join OpenAI board's safety and security committee,

alongside CEO Sam Altman and directors Bret Taylor, Adam

D'Angelo, Paul Nakasone and Nicole Seligman, the company said.

The safety committee makes recommendations on safety and

security decisions for all of OpenAI's projects.