OpenAI Employees Were Resistant To Joining Microsoft, Citing Loss Of Benefits: Report
When Sam Altman was ousted from his role as OpenAI's CEO, Microsoft extended an unusual invitation to all OpenAI employees. The tech giant, led by CEO Satya Nadella, promised employment to any OpenAI employee willing to leave the AI company following Altman's ouster. At that point, Altman himself was expected to head a new advanced AI division at Microsoft. However, he was later reinstated as OpenAI CEO with a new board in place.
Why OpenAI employees didn't want to join Microsoft
It turns out that many OpenAI employees weren't too keen on joining Microsoft. For them, it would have meant loss of perks and many benefits. According to Business Insider, many OpenAI employees claim that joining Microsoft was just a bluff in order to bring back Altman as OpenAI's CEO.
OpenAI employees would have lost out on a lot of perks by joining Microsoft, including a lucrative salary and equity in the company, along with a tender offer. At OpenAI, base salaries begin at $300,000 with an equity package worth $2 million over four years - sometimes even more.
Also read:?OpenAI May Have Dismissed CEO Altman To Avert Release Of Human-Threatening AI Model
What did Microsoft tell OpenAI employees?
Microsoft, at the time, had offered to hire all OpenAI employees at the same salary level, but that was only a verbal offer. One employee said that it was unlikely for Microsoft to pay OpenAI staff members for the equity that they would have lost. In addition, the tender offer would have been cancelled.
In fact, a current OpenAI employee said that nobody wanted to work at Microsoft, calling the tech giant among the slowest in the industry. Another employee stated that Altman is not the best CEO, but millions of dollars and equity were at stake and no employee wanted to risk losing that.
Also read:?OpenAI Reportedly Working With Famed Ex-Apple Designer To Develop A Smartphone
How were things at Microsoft?
Things weren't rosy at Microsoft either. The company laid off 10,000 employees earlier this year and Microsoft employees were enraged that the company offered to match the salaries of disgruntled OpenAI employees so quickly. Microsoft has frozen salaries, slashed bonuses, and stock awards, so it makes sense why its employees would feel anger.
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