[lolc]

In the case of OpenAI it's potential value that investors are assessing, not value. If they folded today, society would not care.

And as for the whole idea of "company value equals value to society", I see monopolies and rent seeking as heavy qualifiers on that front.

[whimsicalism]

I agree with both of those points, it is a very rough proxy. (edit my original) Future value is still important though.