OpenAI execs are reportedly having “intense discussions” on how to prevent a staff exodus following the surprise ouster of CEO Sam Altman — who has since accepted a gig at Microsoft.
On Monday, greater than 700 of the startup behind ChatGPT’s 770 staff signed a letter threatening to quit if the board doesn’t reinstate Altman. That prompted OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs, Anna Makanju, to deliver an internal memo attempting to rally the corporate’s workforce, according to Bloomberg, which reviewed the message.
Makanju assured that OpenAI’s management is in contact with Altman, Shear and the board, “but they aren’t prepared to give us a final response this evening,” she wrote, per Bloomberg.
The extent of OpenAI’s discussions with Altman — or in the event that they involved giving the 38-year-old AI whiz his job back — stays unclear.
Over the weekend, OpenAI’s board named former Twitch boss Emmett Shear the ChatGPT maker’s interim CEO, capping a dizzying three days of executive shuffling at the unreal intelligence firm that also saw Greg Brockman, Altman’s close ally and the corporate’s president, jumping ship to Microsoft too.
Representatives for OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Altman may not even want his old position back, as he’s already been offered a comfy CEO role leading a recent artificial intelligence research team over at Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor.
In his recent position, Altman will still have the option to work with OpenAI, which is currently engaged in a $10 billion “multiyear” partnership with Microsoft. “Satya and my top priority stays to ensure openai continues to thrive,” Altman posted to X on Monday.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has echoed the sentiment in his own posts: “We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI,” he tweeted on Monday — the identical day he gave his first interview since Altman’s ouster, which shook Silicon Valley.
Speaking to CNBC, Nadella left the door open for more OpenAI staffers to nab a job at Microsoft.
Nadella said it’s up to all employees whether or not they stay of their current roles or accept a recent position at Microsoft. “I’m open to each options,” he told CNBC.
Regardless of where staffers find yourself, “I feel it’s very clear that something has to change across the governance,” Nadella told the outlet.
He added that Microsoft would have “a great dialogue with their [OpenAI’s] board on that.”
The Post has sought comment from Microsoft.