A large number of OpenAI staff have threatened to resign from the company and join Microsoft, where ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman are spearheading a new ‘advanced AI research team.’
In a quickly unfolding sequence of events, Altman, who was removed by the board on Friday, has been appointed by Microsoft to lead the establishment of an advanced AI research team.
On Monday, discussions surfaced about OpenAI’s interest in Altman’s potential return, with indications that he might consider the prospect under specific conditions.
‘We want to partner with Open AI and we want to partner with Sam so irrespective of where Sam is he’s working with Microsoft,’ chief executive Satya Nadella said in a streamed Bloomberg interview.
‘That was the case on Friday. That’s the case today. And we absolutely believe that will be the case tomorrow.’
In a letter released to the media, the majority of OpenAI’s 770-strong staff has expressed their intention to follow Altman unless the board responsible for his departure resigns.
‘Your actions have made it obvious that you are incapable of overseeing OpenAI,’ the letter said.
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‘Microsoft has assured us that there are positions for all OpenAI employees at this new subsidiary should we choose to join.’
An influential AI executive at Microsoft affirmed that OpenAI is open to receiving all individuals if the board, which removed Altman, decides to step down.
Co-founder Ilya Sutskever, the company’s chief scientist, and a member of the four-person board that pushed for Altman’s removal, was among the signatories.
‘I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions,’ Sutskever said in a post on X, formally Twitter. ‘I never meant to harm OpenAI.’
Also signing the document was top executive Mira Murati, who was appointed as CEO to take over from Altman after his removal on Friday, but didn’t remain in the role past the weekend.
‘We are all going to work together some way or other, and I’m so excited,’ Altman said on X.
OpenAI has named Emmett Shear, a former chief executive of Amazon’s streaming platform Twitch, as its new CEO, despite pressure from Microsoft and other major investors to reinstate Altman.
After the startup’s board ousted Altman, US media highlighted concerns that he was downplaying the risks associated with its technology and steering the company away from its stated mission — allegations that have been denied by his successor.
Nadella revealed on X that Altman will be in charge of a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, which will include OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman.
Microsoft, a global tech titan, has poured in excess of $10 billion into OpenAI and has seamlessly integrated the artificial intelligence pioneer’s technology into its own products.
Nadella reassured that Microsoft is fully committed to its partnership with OpenAI. The unfolding events were widely discussed in Silicon Valley on Monday.