Microsoft hires ex-OpenAI leads amid turmoil in ChatGPT company
IT giant stirs up massive fights in OpenAI as it fishes out the best employees
Microsoft has appointed OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman to lead a “new advanced AI research team,” announced Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. This decision followed three days of intense discussions prompted by the unexpected dismissal of Altman by OpenAI’s board.
Numerous OpenAI members, including co-founder Brockman, departed the company in protest. Sam Altman will assume the role of chief executive for the new AI group at Microsoft, as stated by Nadella. Nadella expressed optimism about replicating the successful approach of granting founders and innovators the autonomy to establish independent identities and cultures within Microsoft, citing examples such as GitHub, Mojang Studios, and LinkedIn.
Nadella mentioned that Altman and Brockman would be joined by “colleagues.” In a post on X, Brockman revealed that former OpenAI top talents Szymon Sidor, Jakub Pachocki, Aleksander Madry are joining Microsoft, with more expected to follow suit. A letter from OpenAI employees stated that Microsoft had extended job offers to all OpenAI employees, urging the board to resign.
Nadella expressed anticipation for a swift provision of resources for their success, a sentiment widely praised by tech entrepreneurs as an example of remarkable execution. In a post, Brockman added that the new team will create something innovative and extraordinary.
Having invested over $10 billion in OpenAI and acquired almost 50% ownership, Nadella affirmed Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to the startup. The sudden action of OpenAI’s board reportedly caught Microsoft by surprise.
