OpenAI Saga Unfolds: Microsoft Supports Former CEO Sam Altman Amidst Management Change

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed his support for former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman following Altman’s sudden exit from the company. Nadella’s pledge of support comes as investors and employees rally behind Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, increasing their chances of being reinstated. The news of Altman’s departure took Microsoft by surprise, prompting Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives to speculate that Microsoft may seek to exert more control over OpenAI in the future. Ives also raised concerns about OpenAI’s competitors, Amazon and Alphabet, potentially taking advantage of the management change. Altman’s departure may be linked to his plans to launch an AI chip startup, with potential investments from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and SoftBank Group’s Masayoshi Son. Indian American venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who backs Altman’s return to OpenAI, described him as a once in a generation CEO with a profound impact on the world. The OpenAI board, which initially agreed to resign in response to employee pressure, is now discussing Altman’s potential return and the possibility of radical governance changes. OpenAI, known for its large language model GPT, shocked the tech world with Altman’s ousting. Altman himself has described the experience as sorta like reading your own eulogy while you’re still alive.