OpenAI Employees Threaten Mass Resignation to Microsoft Over Board Dispute
More than 500 OpenAI employees demand the board resign following the sudden ouster of CEO Sam Altman, warning they will leave for Microsoft. The unprecedented internal revolt highlights the deep chaos within the leading artificial intelligence company.
Over 500 OpenAI employees issue an open letter demanding the company's board resign after the sudden firing of CEO Sam Altman. The staff members represent roughly 72 percent of the company's workforce and state clearly that the board is incapable of overseeing the organization. They note that the board fails to provide any written evidence to support the allegations against Altman.
The internal revolt follows a chaotic weekend that begins with Altman's unexpected removal and President Greg Brockman's subsequent resignation. After frantic negotiations fail to reinstate the leadership duo, the board names former Twitch boss Emmett Shear as the new CEO. This decision prompts immediate and severe backlash from the staff.
The employees threaten to resign en masse and join a newly announced Microsoft subsidiary led by Altman and Brockman. Microsoft assures the OpenAI staff that positions are available for all of them at this new entity. Notably, OpenAI board member Ilya Sutskever signs the resignation demand and publicly expresses deep regret over his role in removing Altman.