Microsoft Corp has appointed Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI, to lead its new in-house artificial intelligence team. The decision comes after Altman’s recent departure from OpenAI and aims to strengthen Microsoft’s AI strategy and reassure investors. Greg Brockman, another co-founder who also left OpenAI, will join Altman in the new team. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his support for the appointment and pledged to provide the resources necessary for their success.
The move was made after Microsoft’s attempts to reinstate Altman and Brockman at OpenAI were unsuccessful. In response, the OpenAI board named Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, as their new CEO. Nadella emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to their partnership with OpenAI and expressed confidence in their product roadmap and ability to innovate.
Microsoft has been actively incorporating OpenAI’s technology into their product lineup and has made a significant investment in the startup. However, Altman’s sudden departure raised concerns about the impact on Microsoft’s AI strategy. Following Nadella’s announcement, Microsoft’s stock experienced a positive turnaround in premarket trading.
The exact number of former OpenAI employees joining Microsoft is unknown, but Nadella confirmed that colleagues of Altman and Brockman would be joining the new team. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will balance its commitment to OpenAI and its own Altman-led AI group. Nadella pointed to LinkedIn and GitHub as examples of Microsoft-owned businesses that operate independently with their own CEOs.
By hiring Altman and Brockman, Microsoft aims to leverage their expertise in the field of AI. However, this decision may cause some tension among the existing Microsoft AI team. Despite this, Microsoft is determined to continue its focus on AI research and innovation.
FAQ
Who is Sam Altman?
Sam Altman is a co-founder of OpenAI and was previously the CEO of the company.
Who is Greg Brockman?
Greg Brockman is a co-founder of OpenAI and is joining Microsoft’s new in-house AI team alongside Sam Altman.
What is OpenAI?
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory and company.
What is Microsoft’s AI strategy?
Microsoft’s AI strategy involves leveraging technology from OpenAI and incorporating it into their product lineup.
How did Microsoft react to Sam Altman’s departure from OpenAI?
Microsoft hired Altman to lead their new in-house AI team in an effort to strengthen their AI plans and reassure investors.
What impact did Altman’s departure have on Microsoft?
Altman’s departure initially caused concern among investors, but Microsoft’s stock experienced a positive turnaround following Nadella’s announcement.
How will Microsoft balance its commitment to OpenAI and the new in-house AI team?
Microsoft will aim to maintain its partnership with OpenAI while also developing its own AI capabilities under the leadership of Altman.