OpenAI Faces Mass Exodus: Nearly All Staff Contemplates Departure After Sam Altman’s Exit
Nearly all of OpenAI's employees are threatening to quit and follow former CEO Sam Altman to work at Microsoft. More than 700 of the company's 770 employees signed a letter on Monday addressed to OpenAI's board saying that the signatories are "unable to work for or with people that lack competence, judgment and care for our mission and employees."
What are employees demanding?
The letter asked for the resignation of every board member and for the reinstatement of Altman. The employees threatened to follow Altman to Microsoft if they failed to follow through on this letter.
Microsoft has "has assured us there are positions for all OpenAI employees," the letter said. This means that OpenAI could virtually move to Microsoft without the tech giant acquiring the company if Altman isn't reinstated.
How was Altman removed?
Altman was fired from OpenAI owing to disagreements with the board over how fast to develop and monetise artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Instead of bringing back Altman, OpenAI board named a new leader, former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. At the same time, Microsoft hired Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman to head a new AI team.
Also read:?Sam Altman To Join Microsoft After Abrupt Ouster From OpenAI, Says Satya Nadella
Ilya Sutskever, an OpenAI co-founder and chief scientist, had been seen as instrumental in the board's actions and explained his stance on X. "I deeply regret my participation in the board's actions," Sutskever wrote on Monday. "I never intended to harm OpenAI. I love everything we've built together and I will do everything I can to reunite the company."
How is it progressing?
According to the letter, Altman's ouster came as a surprise to OpenAI employees, as well as Microsoft, its biggest investor. Emmett Shear, the new CEO of OpenAI, won over the directors owing to his recognition of threats posed by AI, Bloomberg reported.
Before the letter's release, many OpenAI employees posted identical messages on X. "OpenAI is nothing without its people," they wrote. Altman reshared some of these posts with heart emojis.
Also read:?Sam Altman Will Not Return To OpenAI, Board Names Emmett Shear As New CEO: Report
"We have more unity and commitment and focus than ever before," Altman wrote on Monday. "We are all going to work together some way or other, and i'm so excited. one team, one mission."
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