In a bold and unprecedented move, 505 OpenAI employees, representing over 75% of the company’s workforce, have issued a collective ultimatum to the company’s board of directors, threatening mass resignation if the former CEO, Sam Altman, and President Greg Brockman are not reinstated.
The OpenAI employees, comprising key figures within the company, penned a sternly worded statement outlining their concerns about the recent leadership changes and their potential detrimental impact on the company’s mission and stability.
The employees expressed deep dismay over the handling of the recent leadership alterations, asserting that the decision to remove Altman and Brockman from their roles has jeopardised the company’s pioneering work in AI. They emphasised OpenAI’s global influence in AI safety, governance, and product development, underscoring the substantial impact the company has had in pushing the field to new heights.
The statement further accused the board of directors of lacking competence and judgement, alleging that the abrupt dismissals were carried out without providing concrete evidence or specific facts to support their actions. The employees also highlighted the board’s alleged negotiation in bad faith, culminating in the removal of interim CEO Mira Murati, a move deemed against the best interests of the company.
An excerpt of the OpenAI employees statement reads:
“We, the undersigned, may choose to resign from OpenAl and join the newly announced Microsoft subsidiary run by Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. Microsoft has assured us that there are positions for all OpenAl employees at this new subsidiary should we choose to join. We will take this step imminently unless all current board members resign, and the board appoints two new lead independent directors, such as Bret Taylor and Will Hurd, and reinstates Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.“
See the full statement below:
The uproar within OpenAI follows the company’s announcement of Sam Altman’s dismissal as CEO. Citing concerns about Altman’s inconsistent communication, the board declared a lack of confidence in his ability to lead the organisation.
Read also: Meet Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch who replaces Sam Altman as interim boss at OpenAI
OpenAI employees move puts company at a crossroads
The OpenAI employees’ statement at OpenAI underscores growing discontent and uncertainty within the company, raising critical questions about the board’s transparency, decision-making, and overall governance. The repercussions of a potential mass exodus of employees at one of the most influential AI companies could significantly impact the landscape of AI research and development.
As of this time, OpenAI’s board has yet to respond to the demands, and it is thus yet to be seen how the situation will unfold. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, in the early hours of today, confirmed in a tweet the integration of former OpenAI executives Sam Altman and Greg Brockman into a new advanced AI research team at the company.
Former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, along with President Greg Brockman and their colleagues, will lead the new advanced AI research initiative at Microsoft. Although Altman won’t return as CEO, the announcement cements the company’s commitment to maintaining its relationship with the former CEO, who initiated the partnership with both companies earlier on.
Altman, in a statement shared through Twitter, affirmed his continued mission despite departing from OpenAI. The collaboration between Microsoft and the former OpenAI leadership marks a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of AI research and development.
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