“Open AI is nothing without its people.”
Sam Altman reposted that phrase seven times on X Monday along with heart emojis in a show of support for the team he was just removed from.
Now, one of the most influential people in AI is leading a new research team at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), the same tech giant that invested tens of billions in OpenAI.
Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella both insist that the seismic personnel changes won’t affect the partnership between the two companies.
“We have more unity and commitment and focus than ever before,” Altman posted. “We are all going to work together some way or other, and i’m so excited. ...one team, one mission.”
we have more unity and commitment and focus than ever before.
we are all going to work together some way or other, and i’m so excited.
one team, one mission.
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 20, 2023
“Satya and my top priority remains to ensure openai continues to thrive ... the openai/microsoft partnership makes this very doable,” he added in another post.
Altman also praised members of the OpenAI leadership team, including Mira Murati, who served as interim CEO for about 48 hours before the board of directors tapped former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear for the role.
The nod to Murati is significant, as she tried to rehire Altman and former president Greg Brockman during her brief window as CEO, according to reporting from Bloomberg.
Moving forward, having Altman in-house could be a boon for Microsoft. The company may have its pick of OpenAI’s engineering talent after more than 500 of the startup’s roughly 700 employees signed a letter threatening to leave the company if Altman isn’t reinstated.
Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com
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