United States (20/11/2023) - OpenAI, known for its groundbreaking ChatGPT technology, made headlines with the abrupt dismissal of its CEO, Sam Altman, and the removal of its president, Greg Brockman, from the board. This shakeup occurred around noon on Friday, surprising many within and outside the company. Greg Brockman revealed in a post on Friday night that the notifications about their removal from their roles were delivered via Google Meet.
This choice of communication platform has raised eyebrows in the tech community, especially considering Microsoft's significant investment in OpenAI. Microsoft, the AI company's leading investor, has contributed approximately $13 billion, including a recent infusion of $10 billion. This partnership extends to Microsoft's search engine, Bing, which utilizes OpenAI's GPT-4 technology for its chatbot.
The use of Google Meet, a product of Microsoft's competitor, for such a crucial communication has led to humorous and critical remarks on social media. Tech workers and observers have commented on the irony and potential implications of not using Microsoft Teams, a direct product of OpenAI's primary investor.
In response to the events, Rishikesh Taksale, a creative content manager, shared a visual depicting Google workers celebrating the news, highlighting the perceived advantage this situation brings to Google. Taksale expressed his admiration for Altman and his work, noting his disappointment in the situation but remaining hopeful for Altman's future endeavors.
Microsoft's reaction to the sudden changes at OpenAI was one of surprise. The tech giant's leadership was reportedly only informed minutes before the announcement of Altman's departure became public. Despite the unexpected developments, Mira Murati, OpenAI's interim CEO, assured employees of the continued stability of the partnership with Microsoft. Similarly, Microsoft CEO Nadella reaffirmed the long-term agreement with OpenAI in a recent post.
The events have sparked discussions about corporate loyalty, strategic partnerships, and the nuanced dynamics within the tech industry, especially between major players like OpenAI and Microsoft. For now, the relationship between the two companies appears to remain intact, but the incident has certainly left an intriguing mark on the landscape of tech leadership and corporate alliances.