OpenAI Employees Threaten Mass Exodus Over Ousted CEO Sam Altman's Departure to Microsoft
A wave of discontent has swept across OpenAI as hundreds of employees have threatened to quit en masse following the ousting of former CEO Sam Altman and the board's decision not to reinstate him.
The revolt erupted on Monday morning when a letter signed by over 700 OpenAI employees was circulated demanding the resignation of the entire board and the immediate reinstatement of Altman and former President Greg Brockman. The letter accused the board of "incompetence, judgment, and a lack of care for our mission and employees," stating that "OpenAI is nothing without its people."
The upheaval at OpenAI began on Friday when the board abruptly removed Altman as CEO, citing concerns about his "candidacy in communications with the board." The move sent shockwaves through the tech industry and raised questions about the future of the non-profit AI research company.
Adding fuel to the fire, Microsoft announced early Monday that it had hired Altman and Brockman to lead a new "advanced AI research team." This revelation further angered OpenAI employees, who felt that the board's decision to oust Altman had not only undermined the company's mission but also jeopardized their own futures.
The letter from OpenAI employees stated that they would "choose to resign from OpenAI and join the newly announced Microsoft subsidiary run by Sam Altman and Greg Brockman" if their demands were not met. This mass exodus, if it materializes, would be a severe blow to OpenAI, which is already facing increasing competition from other AI research firms.
The board of OpenAI has yet to respond to the letter from employees, and it remains unclear whether they will be willing to meet the employees' demands. However, the situation at OpenAI is clearly volatile, and the company's future hangs in the balance.