Hundreds of OpenAI employees are calling for the resignation of ChatGPT’s company board and threatening to quit, following a tumultuous weekend that began with the surprise firing of CEO Sam Altman and ended with Microsoft’s hiring of Altman.
In a letter obtained by CNN, the more than 500 employees accused OpenAI’s board of mishandling Altman’s firing, of failing to provide sufficient evidence for allegations that Altman had not been truthful with the board, and of “negotiating poorly.” faith” with the company’s executive leadership. .
“Your actions have made it obvious that you are unable to supervise OpenAI,” the employees wrote.
“We cannot work for or with people who lack competence, judgment and care for our mission and employees.”
Workers also warned that they would “possibly” follow Altman to Microsoft unless the board resigned and reinstated Altman and Greg Brockman, the former president of OpenAI who was also removed by the board on Friday.
Among the signatories is Mira Murati, who on Friday was named by the board as Altman’s interim successor, as well as Ilya Sutskever, co-founder, chief scientist and board member of OpenAI, who was widely reported to have played a role in the firing by Altman.
Murati’s promotion has since been replaced by the appointment of a new interim CEO, 40-year-old Emmett Shear, the co-founder of live-streaming company Twitch.
On Monday (20), when news of the letter emerged, Sutskever published a apology in Xthe former Twitter, on which he acknowledged his contribution to the leadership crisis, which appeared to revolve around tensions between Altman and the board over the pace and scope of AI development.
I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions. I never intended to harm OpenAI. I love everything we’ve built together and I will do everything I can to reunite the company.
— Ilya Sutskever (@ilyasut) November 20, 2023
“I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions,” he said. “I never intended to harm OpenAI. I love everything we have built together and will do everything I can to reunite the company.”
The letter highlights internal divisions at OpenAI, which became public after Altman’s firing, and raises further questions about the fate of OpenAI’s three non-employee board members.
That list includes Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner, director of fundamental research strategy and grants at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
While trying to manage the fallout from Altman’s firing, the letter stated, board members “informed the leadership team that allowing the company to be destroyed ‘would be consistent with the mission’” of OpenAI, which is “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefit all humanity.”
The rebuke from some of OpenAI’s most senior employees also highlights Altman’s loyal following and the opportunity for Microsoft to benefit from the situation.
“Microsoft has assured us that there are roles for all OpenAI employees,” the letter adds.
After Sutskever made his X post, Altman republished the apology.
Source: CNN Brasil
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