OpenAI is research The organization behind ChatGPTthe AI-created chatbot that took the internet by storm last year for its ability to actually do just that Strange conversations with technology journalists. It’s at the heart of Microsoft’s big bet on generative AI tools Transforming the world, games, and more, is now in danger of collapsing after its CEO, Sam Altman, was mysteriously ousted by OpenAI’s board of directors and Twitch co-founder Emmett Sherr was appointed to replace him. Here’s everything you really need Learn about OpenAI To appreciate what a clusterfuck the last few days have been like.
The research organization has a non-profit wing and a for-profit subsidiary. Sam Altman, as head of the entire organization, has raised billions in funding from Microsoft and recently began rolling out experimental AI tools called GPTs. There is the main, ChatGPTwho will write you work emails, attempt to summarize articles and research, and They often make things up.
But OpenAI recently announced a GPT platform You can create small, custom GPT nodes for any type of work you need to do. Microsoft has just rolled out its own version of this It’s called the co-pilot early this month, adding ChatGPT functionality to things like PowerPoint. No one knows how any of this will translate into big profits.Generative AI is really expensive– But no one wants to be the last to find out. Last year’s ChatGPT splash sparked a gold rush in AI speculation, Including the video game industryThe current chaos highlights the tension between censorship of new technology and Silicon Valley’s tendency to “Move fast and break things“.
In the midst of the AI arms race, Altman was abruptly fired from OpenAI on November 17. Announce it “He was not consistently frank in his communications with the Board of Directors, which hindered his ability to exercise his responsibilities.” Co-founder and president Greg Brockman was also removed And he said It was fellow co-founder, chief scientist, and board member Ilya Sutskever who informed them of their departure. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella introduced Tweet damage control Saying that the long-term partnership between the two companies was good.
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Then, over the weekend, the board quickly began trying to back down after an employee revolt. Three senior researchers resignedincluding one working on Dota 2 bot Who destroyed the pros in 2018. CTO Mira Murati became interim CEO for about two days. There were grumbles Employees threaten mass resignations the edge mentioned On November 18, as Altman was in talks to return, the board was prepared to resign to make it happen, but then… The deadline for reaching an agreement has passed And everything kept falling apart.
Today, November 20, OpenAI announced that Twitch co-founder and former CEO Emmett Shear will become its new president and Microsoft announced that it will hire Altman, Brockman and others to lead “a new advanced AI research team.” Altman will be the CEO of the division, Equivalent to the title recently acquired by Phil Spencer To oversee all of Microsoft’s gaming business. Wired mentioned More than 500 employees at OpenAI have promised to resign unless the board resigns.
“I deeply regret my involvement in the actions of the Board of Directors,” Sutskever, the clear Brutus on this whole matter, said. chirp Shortly before the petition was circulated. “I never meant any harm to OpenAI. I love everything we have built together and will do everything in my power to bring the company back together.
It’s still not clear Why It all happened. Was the board just power-hungry? Were there actual principled disagreements about the future of AI research and the first commercial direction Altman was taking the company? This story will likely unfold in the coming days and weeks, but for now OpenAI’s coup is just a testament to how quickly and chaotically generative AI has been ramped up and deployed over the past year.
You don’t have to look any further than Cher’s post to see that. The former Twitch boss has exited the Amazon-owned streaming platform for video game culture and creator drama Earlier this year amid layoffs and malaise. He said he was leaving to focus on his newborn son. Now he’s found a new, controversial vortex to dive into. “Spending time with him was just as rewarding as I thought it would be, and I was happily avoiding full-time work.” chirp today. “I took this job because I believe OpenAI is one of the most important companies out there.”
Scheer said he plans to launch a full investigation into Altman’s ouster and make its findings public. He also claimed that the board’s disagreement with the former CEO was not about safety concerns (it’s all about artificial intelligence Deep fake porn to Weapons of mass destruction) and that there are still plans to continue selling OpenAI tools and research moving forward. “I’m not crazy enough to take this job without the board’s support to market our amazing models,” he wrote. This was far from reassuring for people who felt like they were The entire AI pivot in the tech sector has thrown caution to the wind.
It’s hard not to wonder if this is the beginning of the end for OpenAI, or a more ferocious one The strangest rivalry between it and Microsoft moving forward Both are trying to chart the future of the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the Internet and the world and benefit from it. One thing is clear, there was little scrutiny of Shear before he was hired at OpenAI. Just days before he was tapped, he tweeted about how CEOs are overrated. “Most CEO jobs (and most executive jobs) are highly automatable.” books On November 16th. “There are of course occasional key decisions that you can’t replace.” This was by far one of the more Ordinary things This year, he said.
Updated 11/20/2023 at 4:34 PM ET: To be sure, the story of OpenAI’s succession has continued to get weirder. 404 media I discovered a huge Harry Potter story that incorporated Cher into its story, while in order toWith debts Through his thoughts on sex and using artificial intelligence to write little lines.
But the biggest update of all is that Shear may not end up running OpenAI at all. the edge Reports now Altman’s move to Microsoft has not been finalized, and the former CEO is still actively pushing for his old job back and for the OpenAI board to effectively hand over control of the nonprofit research organization to him. Even the oldest investor in OpenAI He appears to be calling on Cher to make room. As Matt Levin points outIt seems that no matter who ends up running OpenAI after all of this, the people with the money will be the ones in charge in the future.
