OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman resigned on Friday, hours after the Microsoft-backed giant abruptly fired its CEO, Sam Altman, and ensured that Brockman would remain at the startup. Brockman's sudden departure adds to the uncertainties at OpenAI, coming on the heels of its first developer conference led by Altman.
“I am very proud of what we have all built together since I started in my apartment 8 years ago. We have been through difficult and fantastic times together, achieving so much despite all the reasons why it should have been impossible,” Brockman wrote in a message to the OpenAI team. “But according to the news, I resigned. I truly wish you all nothing but the best. “I continue to believe in the mission of creating safe AGI that benefits all humanity.”
OpenAI previously said Brockman would step down as chairman but would remain with the company. Brockman, who co-founded OpenAI with Altman, is a close confidant of OpenAI's former CEO.
OpenAI, Brockman and Microsoft, which is not on the startup's board but owns about half of the company, remain tight-lipped about what led to Altman's ouster from the startup, whose great language model fueled and supercharged the race. of AI. The couple's departure has caused commotion in Silicon Valley. Altman has been the public face of the startup, which is not only estimated to lead the current AI race, but in less than a year has also assumed the position of kingmaker for countless other startups building on the offerings. from OpenAI.
Earlier Friday, OpenAI said Altman had left the company after losing the trust of the board of directors. OpenAI said Altman would leave the company after a “review process” by the board “concluded that he” was not consistently candid in communications “with the board, which hampered” his ability to exercise his responsibilities. of the ".
The announcement comes less than two weeks after OpenAI held its first developer conference, where Altman shared that ChatGPT had amassed 100 million users. Microsoft boss Satya Nadella, who was one of the key guests at the conference, said: "We love you guys." In a later interview with the Financial Times, Altman said he hoped to raise “a lot more” from Microsoft and other investors in the future.
“We have a long-term agreement with OpenAI with full access to everything we need to deliver our innovation agenda and an exciting product roadmap; and remain committed to our association, and to Mira and the team. “Together, we will continue to bring the significant benefits of this technology to the world,” Nadella said in a statement following Altman’s departure.
