Microsoft announced that Sam Altman, the OpenAI co-founder ousted from his startup last week, will lead the software developer’s new in-house artificial intelligence team.
This move aims to strengthen Microsoft’s AI plans and reassure investors. Greg Brockman, another OpenAI co-founder who departed the company last week, will join Altman, according to Bloomberg.
Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Satya Nadella stated in a LinkedIn post that the company will swiftly provide the necessary resources for their success. In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), Nadella mentioned that Altman will serve as the CEO of the new in-house group.
Meanwhile, the OpenAI board appointed Emmett Shear, former Twitch chief, as CEO.
Nadella expressed Microsoft’s commitment to the partnership with OpenAI, emphasising confidence in the product roadmap, innovation, and continued support for customers and partners, as stated on LinkedIn.
Nadella has been restructuring Microsoft’s entire product lineup around OpenAI’s technology, investing USD13 billion (~RM60.3 billion) in the startup, and becoming its largest shareholder with approximately a 49% stake.
The extent to which former OpenAI employees, particularly colleagues of Altman and Brockman, will join Microsoft remains uncertain. Nadella highlighted that they would follow their former colleagues.
Additionally, the LinkedIn post did not clarify how Microsoft plans to balance its commitment to OpenAI with its new AI group led by Altman. Nadella cited examples like LinkedIn and GitHub, Microsoft-owned businesses with “independent identities and cultures” and their own CEOs.
