Sam Altman Takes on New Role at Microsoft, Helm New AI Research Team
Sam Altman, previously CEO of OpenAI, has joined Microsoft to lead their new AI research team OpenAI, on the other hand, welcomes Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, as their newest addition
Sam Altman, who was removed from his position as CEO of OpenAI in a tumultuous boardroom upheaval on Friday, has now been announced as joining Microsoft, according to the tech giant on Monday. At the same time, Emmett Shear, the former CEO of streaming service Twitch, is set to take on a role at OpenAI.
"We are eager to become acquainted with Emmett Shear," stated Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a post on X, previously referred to as Twitter. "Furthermore, we are extremely thrilled to announce that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, along with their colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to spearhead a new advanced AI research team."
Microsoft holds the largest investment in OpenAI, according to Nadella, who also stated that Altman will head the "new group."
Various news sources, such as The Information, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times, attributed the appointment of Shear as the temporary CEO of OpenAI to undisclosed insiders on Monday. CNN's request for comment from the company is still pending.
The specifics surrounding Altman's termination are unclear. OpenAI stated that Altman had not been completely open with the board, impeding their ability to fulfill their duties. This vague statement fueled speculation. However, Greg Brockman, OpenAI's co-founder and former president who resigned following Altman's departure, provided the most detailed firsthand account in a post on X.
Altman discovered his termination only moments before the company announced it publicly, according to Brockman. He implied that Altman's dismissal stemmed from a conflict with the company's research division, headed by co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.
CNN contributor Kara Swisher, who communicated with informed sources, revealed that a significant factor in Altman's removal was the friction between him, advocating for a more assertive approach to AI development, and the OpenAI board members, who preferred a more cautious approach.
Altman had been pushing the company to bring products to market more quickly and to sell them for a profit. In public, however, Altman has long cautioned about risks posed by AI.
