Microsoft, an Investor of OpenAI, Engaged Ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Lead an Advanced Research Team

If you’re deeply immersed in the world of tech or someone who chats with ChatGPT more than you do with your mom or girlfriend, you probably know the name Sam Altman.

Over the past year, ChatGPT has truly transformed the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. 

It has demonstrated the potential of AI to integrate into our daily lives, performing tasks such as generating content, answering questions, and even composing essays. 

It’s become clear that AI can simplify our routines and, perhaps, eventually take over certain job roles.

Sam Altman, who co-founded and served as the CEO of ChatGPT, became well-known for AI innovation. However, this took an abrupt turn on Friday morning (17 November 2023) when it was announced that Altman was free of his duties at OpenAI.

The announcement of Altman’s departure sent shockwaves through the global community. Altman announced it via a tweet that left many stunned.

i loved my time at openai. it was transformative for me personally, and hopefully the world a little bit. most of all i loved working with such talented people.

will have more to say about what’s next later.

🫡

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 17, 2023

Sam Altman to Join Microsoft to Lead an Advanced AI Research Team

While the world was left pondering the fate of OpenAI and Altman, it’s evident that many tech companies are keen to hire him, given the success of ChatGPT.

After his departure from OpenAI, Microsoft wasted no time bringing Altman on board to supercharge its AI innovation efforts, following his ousting as CEO from OpenAI.

However, Sam Altman isn’t the only member of the OpenAI team making a move to Microsoft’s AI division.

Greg Brockman, another co-founder of OpenAI, is also making the leap to Microsoft (MSFT), the primary financial supporter of the startup.

Brockman had previously resigned as OpenAI president in the wake of Altman’s dismissal, marking a significant development in the evolving landscape of AI leadership.

After a weekend of intensive negotiations, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Altman and Brockman will spearhead Microsoft’s newly established advanced AI research team, with Altman holding the CEO title for this exciting new venture.

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

As for who will step into Altman’s shoes as CEO of OpenAI, it appears the ChatGPT company will soon welcome its third CEO. 

Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Amazon’s popular streaming service Twitch, is set to step into the role of interim CEO at OpenAI. 

He takes over from Mira Murati, who stepped into the interim CEO position following Altman’s departure and will resume her role as OpenAI’s chief technology officer.

Sam Altman Says He Intends to Return to OpenAI

Despite his departure from the company on Friday, Altman had negotiated to reclaim the position of OpenAI CEO.

However, according to multiple sources who spoke with The Verge, OpenAI’s four-person board remained committed to their decision not to step down and allow his return.

Apparently, Altman had been actively pitching a distinct startup concept to potential investors recently. 

This startup aimed to develop custom AI tensor processing unit (TPU) chips, positioning itself as a competitor to Nvidia. 

This ambitious project, codenamed “Tigris,” garnered significant attention from prominent venture firms and even piqued the interest of tech giant Microsoft.

OpenAI Employees Request for Resignation of OpenAI’s Board

According to The Verge, many OpenAI employees have demanded the resignation of OpenAI’s board. 

They have accused the board of mishandling the dismissal of Sam Altman and have gone as far as to threaten to resign from OpenAI and migrate to Microsoft alongside Altman.

Altman was fired from OpenAI after the board said it had “lost confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.”

Microsoft Still Has Close Partnership with OpenAI

OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022.

Within a year of its release, ChatGPT has become one of the most rapidly adopted software applications worldwide.

satya and my top priority remains to ensure openai continues to thrive

we are committed to fully providing continuity of operations to our partners and customers

the openai/microsoft partnership makes this very doable

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 20, 2023

Operating as a form of generative AI, ChatGPT is designed to follow instructions given in a prompt and generate detailed responses.

ChatGPT received substantial financial backing, amounting to billions of dollars, from Microsoft, OpenAI’s closest collaborator.

In response to the recent developments in OpenAI’s leadership, Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, affirmed in a statement the enduring commitment of his company to its partnership with OpenAI, as well as to Mira Murati and the entire team.