Sam Altman joins Microsoft. The ChatGPT creator won't return to OpenAI

According to Reuters, Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, has confirmed that the former OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman are set to join Microsoft. They will head a new research team centered on advanced artificial intelligence.

Reports suggest that investors were taken by surprise by Sam Altman's departure. Throughout the weekend, the reinstatement of Altman to his former OpenAI post was reportedly under consideration. However, the decision to uphold his dismissal was ultimately maintained.

Nadella vaguely confirmed reports about Emmett Shear's appointment as the new OpenAI CEO, suggesting they "look forward to getting to know Emmett Shear and the new OpenAI executive team and collaborating with them."

Sam Altman further confirmed his move to Microsoft using an enigmatic "mission continues" post on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Reports from "The New York Times" and Bloomberg on Sunday stated that the swift development of artificial intelligence and the resultant safety concerns were significant issues leading to Altman's dismissal as head of OpenAI.

Another significant aspect was Altman's conflict with the company's primary scientist and board member, Ilya Sutskever. The issue primarily revolved around Sutskever's concern that the technology being developed could potentially be hazardous and his belief that Altman was not paying enough heed to these concerns but forging ahead in the race of business competition.

"The New York Times" points out that although the OpenAI - initially established as a non-profit research center focusing on artificial general intelligence (AGI) - became a commercial entity in 2018, it remains overseen by a non-profit board. This board comprises individuals associated with the Effective Altruism movement (EA). A section of this movement that maximizes philanthropic efficacy has increasingly focused on potential existential risks from AI development. Despite often discussing the catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence development, Altman also emphasized the technology's positive potential.

Bloomberg presented a similar conflict narrative. Their report suggests that the decision to dismiss Altman stemmed from company scientists who viewed its company as "unregulated"d and even potentially dangerous". Bloombe also claims that Altman was aggressively pursuing new investors to develop further and expand the user base of ChatGPT, which requires significant capital.