In a stunning turn of events, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced late last night that former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman were both joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team. This announcement sent shockwaves through the industry and caused Microsoft’s stock price to soar. However, less than 24 hours later, reports from The Verge suggested that Sam Altman was still trying to return as OpenAI CEO, leaving Nadella unsure of the situation.
In an interview with CNBC’s Jon Fortt, Nadella expressed his commitment to OpenAI and Sam Altman, regardless of the current situation. He stated that Microsoft had chosen to explicitly partner with OpenAI and that their partnership depends on the people at OpenAI staying there or coming to Microsoft. He added that he was open to both options and wanted Sam and Greg to have a fantastic home, whether it be at OpenAI or Microsoft.
The sudden change in leadership at OpenAI caught everyone off guard, including Nadella, who wished he could turn back the clock to revisit the status quo. Essentially, Nadella woke up on Friday morning with Sam Altman still at the helm of OpenAI, but by the end of the day, Altman had been fired by the OpenAI board.
When pressed on whether Altman and the hundreds of OpenAI employees threatening to resign would join Microsoft, Nadella deferred the decision to the OpenAI board, management, and employees. He also reassured investors and OpenAI customers by highlighting Microsoft’s existing AI capabilities.
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In a subsequent interview with Bloomberg TV, Nadella confirmed that Altman and Brockman were in the process of joining Microsoft. However, he quickly redirected the conversation to discuss Microsoft’s AI work, leaving many questions unanswered.
Reading between the lines, it became clear that Nadella shared the desire of Altman and hundreds of OpenAI employees to see changes in the OpenAI board. He hinted at the need for governance changes and expressed a commitment to ensuring that necessary changes occur to allow for a continued partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI.
The uncertainty surrounding Sam Altman’s status was further highlighted by reports that he was not showing up in Microsoft’s corporate directory. Although it was not unexpected given the abrupt nature of the deal, it raised questions about the status of his appointment. If Altman does join Microsoft, he would likely hold a CEO title, a prestigious role typically reserved for the leaders of major divisions or acquired companies.
As the saga unfolded, the question remained: would Sam Altman continue to be a CEO at Microsoft or OpenAI? The standoff between Altman, Microsoft, and OpenAI left the industry on the edge of its seat, eagerly awaiting the resolution of this high-stakes power struggle.
