Technology
Monday, November 20th, 2023 2:54 pm EDT
Key Points
- Leadership Transition at OpenAI: Former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who had been leading the company since 2019, is set to join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team. This follows his removal from OpenAI’s CEO position, announced by the board due to concerns about his consistent candor in communications. Despite this, a group of OpenAI investors advocated for Altman’s reinstatement over the weekend. OpenAI has appointed Mira Murati as interim CEO, and late Sunday night, former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear was announced as the new leader of OpenAI.
- Microsoft’s Strategic Move: Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI with a significant financial commitment to the company, is strengthening its ties by bringing in Altman, Brockman, and other colleagues to lead a new advanced artificial intelligence research team. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed commitment to swiftly provide the necessary resources for the success of this new team. The move is part of a broader strategy, emphasizing Microsoft’s confidence in its product roadmap, innovation capabilities, and continued support for customers and partners, as showcased at the Microsoft Ignite event.
- Integration and Partnership: The integration of Altman, Brockman, and their team into Microsoft signifies a deeper collaboration between the two tech giants. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI, and the close technology partnership between the companies is expected to further advance with this development. Despite recent leadership changes at OpenAI, Microsoft remains committed to its partnership, indicating a shared vision for the future of artificial intelligence research and development. OpenAI, known for its widely recognized ChatGPT chatbot, has become a household name and was reportedly in talks to sell employee shares at a substantial $86 billion valuation, underscoring its significance in the AI landscape.
Former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, as announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Greg Brockman, former OpenAI president and board chair, along with other colleagues, will also join Altman in leading this new team. Microsoft, having invested billions in OpenAI and maintaining a close technology partnership, expresses commitment to providing the necessary resources for the team’s success.
During the OpenAI DevDay event on November 6, 2023, Nadella shared this news, emphasizing the swift support Microsoft aims to offer. Despite Altman’s recent removal as OpenAI’s CEO, a group of investors pushed for his reinstatement over the weekend. However, OpenAI’s board announced the appointment of Mira Murati as interim CEO, citing Altman’s lack of consistent candor in communications with the board.
Altman, in response to Nadella’s announcement, shared the post with a somewhat cryptic comment, stating, “the mission continues.” Shortly after Altman’s removal, Microsoft’s acquisition of Altman and Brockman into the new AI research team was revealed, even as Brockman resigned from OpenAI altogether.
In a subsequent announcement on Sunday night, OpenAI introduced Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, as the new leader of the company. Nadella expressed his anticipation in getting to know Shear and the rest of OpenAI’s new leadership team.
OpenAI gained widespread recognition after the release of ChatGPT, its chatbot, in late 2022. ChatGPT allows users to input simple text queries and receive answers that can lead to more in-depth conversations. Despite recent internal changes and the departure of key figures from OpenAI, Microsoft remains steadfast in its commitment to the partnership and is confident in its product roadmap and innovation capabilities, as demonstrated at the Microsoft Ignite event.
It’s noteworthy that OpenAI was reportedly in talks to sell employee shares to investors at an $86 billion valuation just last month. The developments mark a dynamic period for both OpenAI and Microsoft, with the integration of OpenAI’s expertise into Microsoft’s advanced AI research team signaling a strategic move in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence research and development.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/20/ousted-openai-head-sam-altman-to-lead-microsofts-new-ai-team-ceo-nadella-says.html
