Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, announced that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, former leaders at Open AI, will join Microsoft to lead a new AI research team. Altman recently left Open AI, a company he co-founded.
In a recent announcement on X, Microsoft’s CEO, Nadella, expressed the company’s unwavering dedication to its partnership with OpenAI. He emphasized their confidence in their product roadmap and their commitment to innovation, as showcased during Microsoft Ignite. Furthermore, Nadella expressed enthusiasm in collaborating with Emmett Shear and the new leadership team at OpenAI, while also reiterating their commitment to supporting customers and partners.
We are thrilled to announce that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, along with their colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to spearhead a groundbreaking AI research team. We are eager to expedite the provision of necessary resources to ensure their success.
Nadella’s post was shared by Altman with the message, “The mission continues.”
Nadella announced that Altman will be assuming the role of CEO for the research group. “I am thrilled to welcome you aboard as the CEO of this new group, Sam. You will be setting a new standard for innovation. Throughout the years, we have gained valuable insights on how to provide founders and innovators with the freedom to establish their own identities and cultures within Microsoft. This includes GitHub, Mojang Studios, and LinkedIn. I am eager to see you do the same,” he stated in response to Altman’s “mission continues” post.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT creator, Altman, was reportedly terminated via a Google Meet call on Friday, as per a post on X by Brockman. The following day, Brockman was informed through a separate Google Meet call that he was being removed from the board but would continue to serve in his position due to his importance to the company.
In his post, Brockman stated that Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder and Chief Scientist at OpenAI, communicated both decisions. Brockman expressed his shock and sadness at the board’s actions and announced his resignation from the company.
In response to Nadella’s announcement, Brockman expressed his excitement by stating, “We have an exciting project in the works, and it is going to be absolutely amazing.”
Altman’s departure from OpenAI, as stated by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is a result of a thorough review process conducted by the board. The board found that Altman’s lack of consistent candor in his communications with them has hindered their ability to fulfill their responsibilities. Consequently, the board has lost confidence in his capability to lead OpenAI effectively.
The tech industry was left astounded by the unexpected decision. Subsequently, reports from US media indicated that prominent investors in OpenAI were urging Altman to come back and had initiated efforts to contact him. However, Altman’s return was hindered when he insisted on significant alterations, such as the removal of existing board members, as a prerequisite.
Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, is set to join OpenAI as its new CEO. Shear expressed his belief that OpenAI is one of the most significant companies in the world and accepted the role after careful consideration. “When the board approached me, I knew I had a responsibility to help if I could,” he stated in a post.
