Microsoft Hires Former CEO Sam Altman After Shocking OpenAI Layoffs

Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, will also join Microsoft as a member of its advanced AI research group.

The Verge news site reported on November 20 that Microsoft is recruiting former CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, and co-founder of the company, Greg Brockman.

Altman was abruptly fired from OpenAI last Friday, after the board of directors announced that they “no longer have confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.” After a week of negotiations with OpenAI, now a major Microsoft partner, about the possibility of bringing Altman back to the company, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella officially announced that both Sam Altman and Greg Brockman will join Microsoft’s newly formed advanced AI research group.

“We are excited to announce that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, along with their colleagues, will join Microsoft to lead a cutting-edge AI research group. We will quickly provide the team with the resources they need to succeed,” Mr. Nadella announced on the official account of the social network X.

He added that Microsoft remains committed to working with OpenAI and is confident in its product roadmap and ability to continue innovating around the products the company announced at Microsoft Ignite. Microsoft looks forward to getting to know new CEO Emmett Shear and the new OpenAI leadership team.

Altman's hiring at Microsoft comes just hours after negotiations with OpenAI's board ended in failure to reinstate him as OpenAI's CEO.

Instead, former CEO and co-founder of livestreaming platform Twitch, Emmett Shear, has been appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI.

Shear will take over from Mira Murati, who was appointed interim CEO of OpenAI following Altman’s shock ouster. OpenAI has not confirmed Shear’s appointment to the press. But with Microsoft’s decision to hire Altman announced, an announcement of a new leadership structure at OpenAI is expected soon.

According to The Verge, Altman had been in talks to return as CEO of OpenAI. But OpenAI's four-person board of directors rejected the offer and did not welcome him back.