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OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

reuters.com

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Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#121

Post by fsckboy »

carlossouza wrote: post #117
rllearneratwork wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "A huge chunk of the company went into open revolt and he got a competing offer that threatened to recruit all of them" - They had a huge funding (>80B?) round planned in which employees could cash-in. Without Sam that round was guaranteed to not happen. So they all had huge financial incentive to support them. Which I guess, characterizes him as a great manager who thinks many steps ahead.

The non-profit-good-for-humanity speech is such a hypocrisy. All incentives all different stakeholders (employees, leadership, board, investors) have are all aligned with the full for-profit side of the organization. In fact, that’s the only side. “Show me the incentive and I’ll show you the outcome”. Charlie Munger

>“Show me the incentive and I’ll show you the outcome”. Charlie Munger

"Show me the loot, and I'll show you the theft" - Willie Sutton (when asked why he robbed banks, what he actually said was "Because that's where the money is")

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#122

Post by mikewarot »

cooper_ganglia wrote: post #95
code51 wrote: post #7

If AGI achieved, Microsoft doesn't have the claim on it commercially. Microsoft with 49% stake in the for-profit entity and non-observer seat, what actually protects Microsoft here? First hand information that AGI is reached? Are we not seeing a card in Microsoft's hand here?

Do we have a formal legal definition for AGI?

No, the Board determines when AGI is reached.

Thus, if OpenAI already got there, and the board found out... Microsoft would have a very VERY strong incentive to ouster the board, and never, ever have Skynet, or whatever, declared an AGI. And then hush it up forever.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#123

Post by ugh123 »

tptacek wrote: post #59
chrisfosterelli wrote: post #15

I'm not necessarily saying they're wrong, but there's really no way to put out a release like this without a "history is written by the victors" vibe coming across.

He pretty clearly won. There's not much to it. A huge chunk of the company went into open revolt and he got a competing offer that threatened to recruit all of them. There's nothing really underhanded or sneaky about it: the board drastically overplayed their hand, and all Altman and Brockman had to do was say "I call". To use the parlance of this community of people: people's priors here all seem to be that somethin…

There's a nytimes piece about Mira Murati being the instigator of much of this, and convincing the board he should be ousted. Also at some point she flipped to the other side, championing his return (maybe due to the revolt).

Immediately reminded me of Succession, where [SPOILER]: Ken initiates a proxy battle for his dad's company, then rejoins the company and attempts to "diffuse the bomb he planted".

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#124

Post by ugh123 »

InvestorType wrote: post #84

Interesting they chose 3 more left leaning board members. Surprising an AI-focused company wouldn't have more diversity of perspective at the governance level.

Sure, get some right-leaning guys in there to balance out the misinformation.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#125

Post by flatline »

tptacek wrote: post #114
flatline wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or the more cynical take that this is the natural course all parties take when they discover themselves atop a large pile of money. The board was just outmaneuvered.

What "maneuver"? They don't appear to have had to do anything to win.

This is true, and yet, they played the opening move.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#126

Post by lettergram »

flatline wrote: post #82
tptacek wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He pretty clearly won. There's not much to it. A huge chunk of the company went into open revolt and he got a competing offer that threatened to recruit all of them. There's nothing really underhanded or sneaky about it: the board drastically overplayed their hand, and all Altman and Brockman had to do was say "I call". To use the parlance of this community of people: people's priors here all seem to be that somethin…

Or the more cynical take that this is the natural course all parties take when they discover themselves atop a large pile of money. The board was just outmaneuvered.

The board buckled. They could and should have done nothing. They would have then won. They’d have the contracts, the money, the IP and infrastructure.

You can hire new engineers & they’d have proven they’re working to benefit humanity.

Now it’s owned by Microsoft.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#127

Post by behnamoh »

tptacek wrote: post #59
chrisfosterelli wrote: post #15

I'm not necessarily saying they're wrong, but there's really no way to put out a release like this without a "history is written by the victors" vibe coming across.

He pretty clearly won. There's not much to it. A huge chunk of the company went into open revolt and he got a competing offer that threatened to recruit all of them. There's nothing really underhanded or sneaky about it: the board drastically overplayed their hand, and all Altman and Brockman had to do was say "I call". To use the parlance of this community of people: people's priors here all seem to be that somethin…

> "WilmerHale found that the prior Board believed at the time that its actions would mitigate internal management challenges and did not anticipate that its actions would destabilize the Company," OpenAI said in a blogpost.

Hard to believe this, esp. coming from board members who had experience. Even if they were right, the sudden firing was utterly unprofessional.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#128

Post by Jensson »

tptacek wrote: post #114
flatline wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or the more cynical take that this is the natural course all parties take when they discover themselves atop a large pile of money. The board was just outmaneuvered.

What "maneuver"? They don't appear to have had to do anything to win.

If they did nothing Sam Altman would have won, since their job is to reign in Sam Altman when he goes out of bounds of the original mission.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#129

Post by behnamoh »

s3p wrote: post #80
chrisfosterelli wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks Dan.

Only sharing this because I learned it myself two months ago and think it's not common knowledge: dang actually is for dan g. and not just the word dang. he never speaks on it but someone mentioned it to me and I thought that was interesting. Anyway yes thank you dan!

dang, didn't know that.

Re: OpenAI board reappoints Altman and adds three other directors

#130

Post by Jensson »

lettergram wrote: post #126
flatline wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or the more cynical take that this is the natural course all parties take when they discover themselves atop a large pile of money. The board was just outmaneuvered.

The board buckled. They could and should have done nothing. They would have then won. They’d have the contracts, the money, the IP and infrastructure. You can hire new engineers & they’d have proven they’re working to benefit humanity. Now it’s owned by Microsoft.

How is "doing nothing" winning? I don't see how giving all the reigns to the bad actor and capitulating is winning.
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