What’s happening between Sam Altman, OpenAI, and Microsoft?
In a surprising turn of events, former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman are set to lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, as announced by Satya Nadella in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 20.
Nadella expressed excitement about Altman and Brockman, along with their colleagues, joining Microsoft to spearhead the new advanced AI research team. He specifically mentioned that Altman would serve as the CEO of this innovative group, setting a new standard for innovation.
Nadella highlighted Microsoft’s experience in allowing founders and innovators space to build independent identities within the company, citing examples such as GitHub, Mojang Studios, and LinkedIn. He expressed anticipation for Altman to do the same.
The weekend prior to this announcement saw a surprising upheaval in the tech industry when OpenAI’s board, led by co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, announced Altman’s removal, causing a ripple effect with key OpenAI investor Microsoft taken off guard.
the mission continues https://t.co/d1pHiFxcSe
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 20, 2023
Amidst the controversy, several OpenAI employees, including co-founder Brockman, resigned in protest. Nadella hinted that Microsoft would be hiring these resigned OpenAI employees, referring to them as “colleagues” joining Altman and Brockman.
We are going to build something new & it will be incredible.
Initial leadership (more soon): @merettm @sidorszymon @aleks_madry @sama @gdb
The mission continues. https://t.co/oAerJnMYQm
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 20, 2023
OpenAI officially announced Altman’s exit on November 18, citing inconsistencies in his communications with the board and a loss of confidence in his ability to lead the organization.
Nadella’s post also confirmed the appointment of former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear as the new OpenAI CEO, expressing eagerness to collaborate with Shear and the new leadership team.
Altman, known for the launch of ChatGPT, faced significant industry uproar following his ouster from OpenAI.
This announcement comes on the heels of Microsoft’s revelation about the development of an AI chip capable of training large language models, signaling a strategic move to reduce dependence on Nvidia and potentially cut costs.
Co-founder of Twitch, Takes Helm as CEO with a Three-Point Agenda
Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, has officially assumed the role of interim CEO at Microsoft-owned OpenAI in the wake of the unexpected departure of Sam Altman, the former top executive. Confirming the appointment on X, Shear described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that he promptly accepted after careful consideration and consultation with his family.
Today I got a call inviting me to consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to become the interim CEO of @OpenAI. After consulting with my family and reflecting on it for just a few hours, I accepted. I had recently resigned from my role as CEO of Twitch due to the birth of my…
— Emmett Shear (@eshear) November 20, 2023
Taking over from Altman, who was removed by the OpenAI board for alleged communication issues, Shear outlined his three-point plan for the company’s future. In his X post, Shear clarified that the board’s decision to remove Altman was not related to safety concerns but rather stemmed from different reasons.
Shear’s three-point plan as the interim CEO of OpenAI includes:
1. Hiring an independent investigator to thoroughly examine the events leading up to the recent changes and produce a comprehensive report.
2. Continuing conversations with employees, partners, investors, and customers to gather insights, take detailed notes, and share key takeaways.
3. Restructuring the management and leadership team in response to recent departures, aiming to create an effective force dedicated to delivering results for customers.
Also Read: Meet Mira Murati, The 34-Year-Old Interim CEO Of OpenAI After Sam Altman
