In a major upheaval in the world of artificial intelligence, Microsoft has recruited Sam Altman to boost its innovation in AI after Altman’s removal as the CEO of OpenAI in a tumultuous boardroom upheaval. The co-founder of OpenAI, along with Greg Brockman, another co-founder, is set to join Microsoft, its largest financial supporter.
This move comes after Altman’s firing from OpenAI, leading to speculation that he might make a return. However, Microsoft’s announcement of Altman joining them seems to put an end to those speculations.
Emmett Shear, former CEO of Amazon’s Twitch, will serve as the interim CEO at OpenAI. OpenAI employees, in an open letter, called for the resignation of OpenAI’s board, expressing discontent over the handling of Altman’s firing.
Microsoft, with its $13 billion investment, holds a significant stake in OpenAI, making Altman the CEO of a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft.
Altman expressed excitement about the new role, emphasizing unity and commitment. He also praised OpenAI’s leadership team. Altman, along with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, stated that their top priority is ensuring the continued success of OpenAI.
Emmett Shear, in his post on X (formerly Twitter), described joining OpenAI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. He acknowledged the damaged reputation of OpenAI due to Altman’s firing and pledged to hire an independent investigator to report on the events leading to it.
The circumstances surrounding Altman’s firing remain unclear, with the board citing issues of candor. Brockman, in a post on X, provided vivid details, suggesting Altman’s disagreement with the company’s research division as a key factor.
Altman had been pushing for more aggressive AI development, while some board members favored a more cautious approach. His vision included bringing AI products to market faster and selling them for a profit. Altman had also overseen OpenAI’s multibillion-dollar investment commitment from Microsoft, aiming to deploy ChatGPT-like technology across Microsoft’s products.
Microsoft’s announcement led to a rise in its stock value. The shakeup underscores the evolving landscape of AI and the strategic moves by major players in the industry.