Sam Altman, more than reinforced, is back at OpenAI.
But the rumblings of the earthquake in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry aren’t free, revealing a rift between drivers who want to accelerate expansion and commercial success (Altman) and those who fear the tool may put end even to humanity.
The big star of the week published a post on X on Wednesday in which he said that he was happy to return to his position as executive director of the company that, in a short year, thanks to his work, has made AI a popular element with its ChatGPT chatbot. After intense negotiation, the agreement was reached with the board of this non-profit company for the return of Altman, although on the condition that he replace the members of that board that last Friday they suddenly announced their dismissal. It was a surprise, despite the fact that the polarization between the two factions, between the apocalyptic and the adventurers, with Altman at the helm, had been brewing for a long time.
His return must calm the internal revolt of almost all of the company’s 770 workers, who threatened to leave if his boss did not return and follow him to Microsoft if the signing was finalized.
The agreement marks the beginning of the end of one of the most followed corporate lineages in the technology industry. In this rebellion forced from within, Altman wins by a landslide. He returns reinforced, without the altruistic conditions of the board.
And Microsoft wins, the main investor with 13,000 million in OpenAI, which in this way sees its control over this society armored. Satya Nadella, its executive director, has moved the cables to reach this result, which curulates its goal of staying behind the wheel of AI.
“We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board”, said Nadella yesterday, who did not hide the more commercial profile of the managers. “It is an essential first step on the way to a more stable, well-informed and effective governance”, he remarked.
“Everything I’ve done these days has been at the service of the unity of the team and its mission”, insisted Altman. “When I decided to join Microsoft, it was clear to me that it was the best thing for the team, but with the new board and with Satya’s support, I’m eager to come back and build on our strong partnership,” he said. add.
Also back is Greg Brockman who was the chairman of the board and after being demoted chose to quit and leave with his friend.
The OpenAI board surprised everyone last Friday after announcing the dismissal of Altman, chief executive and creator of ChatGPT, but much more than that. It is the face of an expanding sector with a lot of future and not a few questions.
The executives said they had lost confidence in Altman. Once the overheating had passed, a negotiation was started to rethink the situation and try to backtrack. In the face of the overthrow of the board, Nadella communicated that Altman would join his company as head of a new AI laboratory.
In truth, Altman wanted to return to the company he founded. His main investor wanted it too. So, many saw in the announcement of that Microsoft signing a ploy to force OpenAI to give in to the conditions of the expulsion.
It worked The workers quickly allied themselves with their ex-boss, which magnified their myth.
In another statement to X, OpenAI noted that the new board will include three of the company’s original members when it was founded in 2015: Bret Taylor, a former Salesforce executive; Larry Summers, who was head of the Department of the Treasury, adviser to Casa Banca and president of Harvard University; and Adam D’Angelo, head of the website Quora and ex-Facebook employee.
D’Angelo was already part of the board of OpenAI. It’s the only one that continues. The departing members are engineer and technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley; Helen Torner, director of strategy; and Ilya Sutskeyer, prestigious AI researcher, scientific director and leader of the revolt against Altman for believing that he ran excessively without taking into account the “dangerous” factors.
Sustkeyer, who earned the title of chief apocalypse, later regretted the decision to fire Altman and signed the workers’ letter calling for his return.
The crisis has cost him the chair. He has managed, however, to talk about the risk of extinction of humanity that, according to his vision, AI can pose.
