Microsoft Hires Ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as Part of Advanced AI Research Team
Sam Altman has found a new home where he could perhaps continue to flex his entrepreneurial and coding know-how.
According to The Verge, the ousted CEO of OpenAI, the startup behind viral chatbot ChatGPT, has been hired by Microsoft as part of a new advanced artificial intelligence (AI) research team. OpenAI Co-Founder Greg Brockman was also hired to join him.
"We’re extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "We look forward to moving quickly to provide them with the resources needed for their success."
OpenAI on Friday, 17 November publicly announced it was ousting Altman as CEO, explaining that "he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities". Altman later posted on X, formerly Twitter, "I loved my time at OpenAI. It was transformative for me personally and hopefully the world a little bit."
Longtime OpenAI President Brockman, meanwhile, quit after he learned he was being removed from the board as chairman. Three senior researchers also submitted their resignations after Altman's firing.
Altman's hiring at Microsoft comes mere hours after it was reported that negotiations to reinstate him at OpenAI fell through. OpenAI's interim CEO Mira Murati had reportedly planned to re-hire her ousted predecessor and Brockman in some capacity, though nothing came of it. Later, it was announced that Emmett Shear, the former CEO and Co-Founder of video game streaming site Twitch, would be taking over as CEO of OpenAI.
Microsoft, which has invested over US$13 billion in OpenAI since 2019, said it'll continue its commitment to the AI startup. As to how that'll play out, however, with Altman and other former OpenAI staff now part of Microsoft's own AI research team, is yet to be seen.
"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," said Nadella.
Former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been hired by Microsoft as part of a new advanced AI research team.
OpenAI Co-Founder Greg Brockman was also hired to join him.
Altman's hiring at Microsoft comes mere hours after it was reported that negotiations to reinstate him at OpenAI fell through.