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Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

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Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#381

I couldn’t make up a more ridiculous plot even if I tried. At this rate I wouldn’t be surprised if Musk got involved. It’s already ridiculous enough, why not.

Plot twist, anonymous donor donates $1B for OpenAI to continue progress.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#382

Amir Efrati (TheInformation): > More than 92% of OpenAI employees say they will join Altman at Microsoft if board doesnt capitulate. Signees include cofounders Karpathy, Schulman, Zaremba. https://twitter.com/amir/status/1726680254029418972

Feels like OpenAI employees aren't so enthused about joining MSFT here, no?

It seems based on Satya's messaging its as much MSFT as Mojang (Minecraft creator) is MSFT... I guess they are trying to set it up with its own culture, etc

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#383

The fact that these people aren't currently willing to "rewind the clock" about a week shows the dangers of human ego. Nothing permanent has been done that can't be undone fairly simply, if all parties agree to undo it. What we're watching now is the effect of ego momentum on decision making. Try it. It's not a crazy idea. Put everything back the way it was a week ago and then agree to move forward. It will be like h…

I doubt it's human ego but purely game play. The board directors knew they lost anyway, why would they cave and resign? They booted the CEO for their doomer ideology, right? So, they are the ethics guys and would it be better for them to go down the history as those who uphold their principles and ideals by letting OpenAI sink?

Or, in simpler terms, there's one thing you can't roll back- everyone now knows the board essentially lost a power struggle. Thus, they would never again have the same clout.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#384
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Incredible. Is this unprecedented or have been other cases in history where the vast majority of employees standup against the board in favor of their CEO?

Market Basket.

Oh yes, I lived through this and it was fascinating to see. Very rarely does the big boss get the support of the employees to the extent they are willing to strike. The issue was that Artie T. and his cousin Artie S. (confusingly they had the same first name) were both roughly 50% owners and at odds. Artie S. wanted to sell the grocery chain to some big public corporation, IIRC. Just before, Artie T had an outstanding 4% off on all purchases for many months, as some sort of very generous promo. It sounded like he really treated his employees and his customers (community) well. You can get all inspirational about it, but he described supplying food to New England communities as an important thing to do. Which it is.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#385
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

truly a Win-Win-Win-Win-Win situation for MSFT

MSFT is like that. Someone playing Game of Thrones is sneaking up with a dagger, but has no idea that MSFT has snipers on all the rooftops.

It helps that their corporate structure [1] is better equipped for it than OpenAI’s.

[1] https://imgur.io/XLuaF0h

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a very different claim than just a few compromised people, then. That's almost the entire company that's 'compromised'.

You compromise a few influential people in the organization to get a foot in the door and ultimately your money - which you control. Your money will do the rest.

The 700 other employees who've signed on have agency. They can refuse to go to Microsoft, and Microsoft wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Microsoft's money isn't some magical compelling force that makes everyone do what they want, otherwise they could have used it on the board in the first place.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#387
post #376

Please can anyone give their opinion on this. There's a real chance OpenAI might die soon. imo if they are left with 10 people and no funding, they should just release their IP and datasets to the public. I've built a petition around this - [link redacted] The idea is that the leftover leadership sees and considers this as a viable option. Does this sound like a possible scenario or Am I dreaming too much?

You are dreaming. This was all clearly led by the Quora CEO. The most likely outcome is that he will agree to sell OpenAI to himself, not release valuable IP into the public domain.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#388

The fact that these people aren't currently willing to "rewind the clock" about a week shows the dangers of human ego. Nothing permanent has been done that can't be undone fairly simply, if all parties agree to undo it. What we're watching now is the effect of ego momentum on decision making. Try it. It's not a crazy idea. Put everything back the way it was a week ago and then agree to move forward. It will be like h…

I think some of the people involved see this as a great opportunity to switch from a non profit to a regular for profit company.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#389
post #376

Please can anyone give their opinion on this. There's a real chance OpenAI might die soon. imo if they are left with 10 people and no funding, they should just release their IP and datasets to the public. I've built a petition around this - [link redacted] The idea is that the leftover leadership sees and considers this as a viable option. Does this sound like a possible scenario or Am I dreaming too much?

The most damning part of all for the remaining board is that a week ago the thought of OpenAI dying would have been unthinkable but now people are genuinely worried it might happen and what the implications are. Even if safety was the genuine issue.. they should have planned this out a lot more carefully. I don't buy the whole "OpenAI destroying itself is in line with its charter" nonsense.. you can't help guide AI safety if you don't exist.

Re: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO

#390
post #375
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently Sam isn't in the Microsoft employee directly yet, so he isn't technically hired at all. Seems like he loses a bit of leverage over the board if they think he & Microsoft are actually bluffing and the employment announcement was just a way to pressure the board into resigning.

He will most likely join M$ if the board does not resign, because there is no better move to him then. But he leaves time to the board to see it, adding pressure together with the empoyees. It does not mean he is bluffing (what would be a better move in this case instead?)

All the employees threatening to leave depends on him actually becoming a Microsoft employee. That hasn't happened yet. So everyone is waiting for confirmation that he's indeed an employee because otherwise it just looks like a bluff.
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