Alexander Lewis
Nov 21, 2023
Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, a day earlier announced that Sam Altman, the brain behind ChatGPT, would join Microsoft's new artificial intelligence team.
However, in a recent interview, Nadella mentioned that he still expects Altman to return to OpenAI.
When questioned about Altman's potential move to Microsoft, Nadella said, “Look, that is for the OpenAI board and management and the employees to choose,”
“We chose to explicitly partner with OpenAI and we want to continue to do so, and obviously, that depends on the people of OpenAI staying there or coming to Microsoft,” he added.
Microsoft has a significant investment in OpenAI, holding a $13 billion share.
On Monday, OpenAI’s bigwigs filled the void created after Altman’s dismissal by appointing a new interim CEO, Mira Murati.
Following the resignation of OpenAI president Greg Brockman and the ouster of Sam Altman, hundreds of OpenAI employees threatened to leave the AI firm over Altman’s removal.
Around 770 employees signed a letter on Monday addressed to the firm’s top management, saying that they are “unable to work for or with people that lack competence, judgment and care for our mission and employees.”
Employees, in the letter, demanded every member of the board to resign and Altman to be rehired.
It further adds that if the provided conditions are not considered, they might join Microsoft. The tech giant, Microsoft, “has assured us there are positions for all OpenAI employees,” the letter stated.
Emphasising on Microsoft's commitment to OpenAI and Altman, Nadella said, “we obviously want Sam and Greg to have a fantastic home if they’re not going to be at OpenAI,”
Twitch co-founder Emmett Shear and Microsoft announced they would hire Altman. The announcement caused Microsoft’s stocks to stir the bullish trend in the international bourse by closing at an all-time high.
