21-11-2023 (SAN FRANCISCO) In a startling turn of events, hundreds of employees at OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company based in San Francisco, have voiced their intention to quit and join Microsoft. The exodus threat follows the recent termination of OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, who revealed plans to establish an AI subsidiary at Microsoft.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to OpenAI’s board, several senior staff members expressed dissatisfaction and called for the board’s replacement. The letter, initially disclosed to Wired, accused the current board of being incapable of overseeing OpenAI effectively.
Among the signatories were notable figures, including Ilya Sutskever, the company’s chief scientist and a member of the board that voted to remove Altman. The list also included Mira Murati, appointed as CEO after Altman’s removal but subsequently demoted over the weekend.
The letter revealed that Microsoft had offered positions to all OpenAI employees at the new subsidiary, adding weight to the potential mass departure. Reports suggest that up to 500 of OpenAI’s 770 employees have signed the letter.
Despite pressure from Microsoft and major investors, OpenAI appointed Emmett Shear, a former CEO of Amazon’s streaming platform Twitch, as its new CEO. Altman’s termination raised concerns about underestimating the risks of the company’s technology and veering away from its stated mission, claims that his successor has denied.
Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, announced Altman’s move to lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, alongside OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and other colleagues. Altman gained prominence with the launch of ChatGPT, sparking a race in AI research and attracting substantial investments.
Altman’s dismissal led to high-profile departures from OpenAI and investor-driven efforts to reinstate him. Despite reassurances from Brockman about building something new, OpenAI defended its decision, citing concerns about Altman’s behavior and lack of transparency.
Shear, confirming his role as OpenAI’s interim CEO, denied reports that Altman was fired over safety concerns related to AI technology. In a post on X, Shear acknowledged the mishandling of Altman’s removal, emphasizing the damaged trust within the company.
Microsoft, a major investor with over $10 billion invested in OpenAI, expressed confidence in the partnership and the new leadership team. OpenAI faces fierce competition in the AI development landscape, with concerns about the misuse of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, emphasizing the need for responsible technology deployment.
