In the wake of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s forced departure, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has extended a generous lifeline to the researchers of the company. Benioff has announced that Salesforce is prepared to match the compensation packages of any OpenAI researcher who decides to resign and join their team. This offer also extends to OpenAI employees currently on U.S. visas whose statuses might be affected by the changes at the company.
The potential ex-OpenAI employees who accept Benioff’s offer will have the opportunity to work under the guidance of Salesforce Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese. They will join the Einstein AI research team, which actively explores various topics such as conversational AI, natural language processing, and the application of AI to reduce environmental damage.
This move by Benioff comes as Salesforce had already been seeking to expand its research team. Prior to Altman’s departure, the company had four job openings and two intern positions posted on their online jobs page.
While other AI companies, like Meta and Nvidia, have also posted open positions in the field, Benioff’s offer stands out as an exceptionally bold move. Through his various online posts, Benioff emphasizes the success of Salesforce’s AI platform, Einstein, which processed an astounding one trillion predictive and generative transactions in the past week.
However, Benioff is not the only industry titan keeping an eye on OpenAI talent. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has also expressed interest in employing OpenAI defectors. In a post on X, Nadella confirmed that Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, along with their colleagues, will be leading a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft.
The future of OpenAI remains uncertain, but Nadella’s statement and the letter signed by OpenAI employees imply that Microsoft may potentially hire the entire workforce of the company’s defectors. Should they choose to join the new Microsoft subsidiary, OpenAI employees have been assured that there are positions waiting for them.
While the specific details of Microsoft’s new AI research team are still vague, reports suggest that Altman and Brockman are open to returning to OpenAI if the board members involved in the power shift step down. It is evident that the turbulence caused by the recent ouster is far from settled, and some employees may seek more stability elsewhere.
FAQ
1. What offer did Marc Benioff extend to OpenAI researchers?
Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, has offered to match the compensation packages for any OpenAI researcher who resigns from the company and joins Salesforce.
2. Which team will OpenAI researchers work for if they join Salesforce?
OpenAI researchers who choose to join Salesforce will work under the guidance of Salesforce Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese on the company’s Einstein AI research team.
3. Are there similar offers from other AI companies?
While other AI companies like Meta and Nvidia have posted open positions, Marc Benioff’s offer to match compensation packages is considered exceptionally bold.
4. How did Microsoft respond to the situation?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman will be leading a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, indicating their interest in hiring OpenAI defectors.
5. Will Microsoft hire all the OpenAI employees who choose to leave?
While it hasn’t been confirmed, a letter signed by OpenAI employees suggests that Microsoft may potentially hire the entire workforce of defectors if they decide to join the new Microsoft subsidiary.