Emmett Shear, Twitch co-founder, is now interim CEO of OpenAI after Sam Altman’s exit. Shear introduced a 30-day plan for investigation and leadership changes. Employee dissatisfaction persists, with calls for the board’s resignation and strong support for Altman.
OpenAI, a key player in the generative artificial intelligence sector, has announced Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, as its interim chief executive.
Shear's selection, coming just days after the board replaced Altman with Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, indicates a rapid shift in leadership strategy at OpenAI.
In a public statement, Shear emphasised his commitment to the company's future:
“I took this job because I believe that OpenAI is one of the most important companies currently in existence. I want to do everything in my power to protect it and grow it further.”
Concurrently, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella announced the hiring of Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman for a new AI research initiative. This move suggests potential future collaborations and shifts in the AI landscape.
Shear, in his vision for OpenAI, laid out a “three-point plan for the next 30 days”, focusing on an independent investigation into recent events, stakeholder engagement, and leadership restructuring.
He acknowledged the importance of OpenAI's stability and success, stating that they are too critical to be disrupted by ongoing turmoil.
Despite these leadership efforts, dissatisfaction among OpenAI employees remains palpable. Senior executive Jan Leike openly called for the board's resignation. The discontent extends to other senior figures within the company, including Mira Murati, Brad Lightcap, Jason Kwon, and Lillian Weng, alongside top researchers like Wojciech Zaremba, Alec Radford, and Bob McCrew.
The weekend preceding Shear's appointment was tumultuous for OpenAI. The board's decision to remove Altman, citing lack of candor, led to intense negotiations and ultimately Altman's move to Microsoft, joined by Greg Brockman. This series of events underscores a dynamic and challenging period for OpenAI.
In a turn of events, board member Ilya Sutskever expressed regret over the board's decision:
“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.”
This sentiment was echoed by Altman and Brockman, highlighting a complex and evolving situation within the company.
The employee sentiment at OpenAI has been vocal, with many supporting Altman and echoing the sentiment,
“OpenAI is nothing without its people.”
This internal conflict at OpenAI reflects broader debates in the AI industry about the pace of development, ethical considerations, and the balance between innovation and regulation. OpenAI's journey from a nonprofit to a more commercially oriented entity has sparked discussions about its mission and the future direction of AI development.
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