Microsoft has made a significant move to bolster its position in the field of artificial intelligence by bringing in Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, following his ousting as CEO in a dramatic boardroom coup. The shakeup has also impacted ChatGPT, which will now see its third CEO in three days. Altman’s appointment at Microsoft has ended a weekend of intense speculation about his return to OpenAI after his firing.
Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, announced that Altman and Greg Brockman, who is joining Microsoft, will lead a new advanced AI research team. With a $13 billion investment in OpenAI, Microsoft is the startup’s biggest stakeholder, and Altman will be the CEO of a new group within the company.
The board that fired Altman seemed to have second thoughts about their decision, engaging in discussions with him and Brockman about their potential return. Meanwhile, the former CEO of Amazon’s Twitch, Emmett Shear, has been appointed as the interim CEO at OpenAI, replacing Mira Murati, who was named interim CEO after Altman’s sudden departure.
Following Altman’s move to Microsoft, Shear expressed his excitement at joining OpenAI and emphasized the importance of stabilizing the company and restoring trust after the recent turmoil. Shear mentioned that an independent investigation would be carried out to address the mishandling of Altman’s firing.
The details surrounding Altman’s firing remain unclear, but according to sources, it was related to a disagreement with the company’s research division. Altman had been advocating for a more aggressive approach to AI development and promoting its commercialization, which led to tensions within the organization.
Despite the upheaval, Altman, Microsoft, and OpenAI are all gearing up to drive forward with their AI research and innovation initiatives. The situation has certainly raised many questions about the future of artificial intelligence and the intricate power dynamics within the industry.
