Days after firing, Sam Altman as CEO of OpenAI, Microsoft appoints him
Microsoft has announced that Sam Altman, who was sacked over the weekend as CEO of OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, will be joining the company to head a new artificial intelligence division.
Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday that Altman, fellow OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and other former OpenAI employees will oversee a “new advanced AI research team” at the company, despite negotiations over the weekend to potentially bring Altman back to OpenAI.
Furthermore, Nadella stated that Microsoft was still committed to its collaboration with the AI startup, in which it has reportedly invested $13 billion, according to Al Jazeera, and that it was looking forward to working with OpenAI’s new leadership team, which includes interim CEO Emmett Shear.
We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in our product roadmap, our ability to continue to innovate with everything we announced at Microsoft Ignite, and in continuing to support our customers and partners. We look forward to getting to know Emmett…
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 20, 2023
Following Altman’s abrupt dismissal on Friday, which shocked the tech world, Brockman announced on X that he was leaving his role as president of OpenAI.
With this action, Microsoft has taken a big step forward in its recruitment of cutting-edge AI expertise and technologies.
Only hours after talks to reinstate Altman as OpenAI CEO failed because the company’s four-member board would not stand down and allow him to return, Altman was hired by Microsoft.
Rather, Emmett Shear, a former CEO of Twitch and co-founder, was designated the company’s interim CEO. She replaced Mira Murati, who had been named the interim CEO of OpenAI in the wake of Altman’s abrupt firing on Friday.
Considering that Microsoft recently hired Altman, OpenAI is likely to make Shear’s job official soon even though it hasn’t done so yet.
On the messaging app X, Altman shared a photo of himself on Sunday sporting an OpenAI guest badge along with the words, “First and last time I ever wear one of these.”
first and last time i ever wear one of these pic.twitter.com/u3iKwyWj0a
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 19, 2023
Both present and former employees were incensed by Altman’s dismissal and concerned about how the abrupt management change could impact an impending $86 billion share sale.
Brockman, the co-founder and former president of OpenAI, also showed up at work on Sunday, according to The Information.
The Information had claimed that Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest backer, was thinking of accepting a board position if Altman returned. This was prior to the news of Altman and Brockman’s hire by Microsoft.
The original report said that Microsoft would join OpenAI’s board of directors or serve as an observer on the board without voting rights
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