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We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

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Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#621

Post by coldtea »

Satam wrote: post #215

Disappointing outcome. The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft. Furthermore, the overwhelming groupthink shows there's clearly little critical thinking amongst OpenAI's employees either. It might not seem like the case right now, but I think the real disruption is just about to begin. OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too…

>OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too short-sighted and reactive.

What does that even mean?

In any case, it's not OpenAI, it's Microsoft, and it has a long history of winning and bouncing back.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#622

Post by martingoodson »

Satam wrote: post #215

Disappointing outcome. The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft. Furthermore, the overwhelming groupthink shows there's clearly little critical thinking amongst OpenAI's employees either. It might not seem like the case right now, but I think the real disruption is just about to begin. OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too…

It's not about critical thinking: the employees were about to sell up to $1B of shares to thrive capital. This debacle has derailed that.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#623

Post by buro9 »

Satam wrote: post #215

Disappointing outcome. The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft. Furthermore, the overwhelming groupthink shows there's clearly little critical thinking amongst OpenAI's employees either. It might not seem like the case right now, but I think the real disruption is just about to begin. OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too…

in the end, maybe Sam was the instigator, the board tried to defend (and failed) and what we just witnessed from afar was just a power play to change the structure of OpenAI (or at least the outcome for Sam and many others) towards profit rather than non-profit.

we'll all likely never know what truly happened, but it's a shame that the board has lost their last remnant of some diversity and at the moment appears to be composed of rich Western white males... even if they rushed for profit, I'd have more faith in the potential upside what could be a sea change in the World, if those involved reflected more experiences than are currently gathered at that table.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#624

Post by jmyeet »

Satam wrote: post #215

Disappointing outcome. The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft. Furthermore, the overwhelming groupthink shows there's clearly little critical thinking amongst OpenAI's employees either. It might not seem like the case right now, but I think the real disruption is just about to begin. OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too…

> The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft.

I'd say the lack of a narrative from the board, general incompetence with how it was handled, the employees quitting and the employee letter played their parts too.

But even if it was Microsoft who made this happen: that's what happens when you have a major investor. If you don't want their influence, don't take their money.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#625

Post by ethanbond »

madeofpalk wrote: post #512
Satam wrote: post #215

Disappointing outcome. The process has conclusively confirmed that OpenAI is in fact not open and that it is effectively controlled by Microsoft. Furthermore, the overwhelming groupthink shows there's clearly little critical thinking amongst OpenAI's employees either. It might not seem like the case right now, but I think the real disruption is just about to begin. OpenAI does not have in its DNA to win, they're too…

Regardless of whether you feel like Altman was rushing OpenAI too fast, wasn’t open enough, and was being too commercial, the last few days demonstrated conclusively that the board is erratic and unstable and unfit to manage OpenAI. Their actions was the complete opposite of open. Rather than, I don’t know, being open and talking to the CEO to share concerns and change the company, they just threw a tantrum and fired…

They fired him (you don’t know the backstory) and published a press release and then Sam was seen back in the offices. Prior to the reinstatement (today), there was nothing except HN hysteria and media conjecture that made the board look extremely unstable.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#626

Post by cableshaft »

dacryn wrote: post #315
eclectic29 wrote: post #196

The media and the VCs are treating Sam like some hero and savior of AI. I’m not getting it. What has he done in life and/or AI to deserve so much respect and admiration? Why don’t top researchers and scientists get equivalent (if not more) respect, admiration and support? It looks like one should strive to become product manager, not an engineer or a scientist.

he tells a good story, no matter if its true or has any scientific foundation or not. He tells what others like to hear, and manages to gain money out of it

Half of being a good CEO is telling a good story, so that's not surprising.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#627

Post by ovalite »

bambax wrote: post #392
altpaddle wrote: post #42

I guess the main question is who else will be on the board and to what degree will this new board be committed to the Open AI charter vs being Sam/MSFT allies. I think having Sam return as CEO is a good outcome for OpenAI but hopefully he and Greg stay off the board. It's important that the board be relatively independent and able to fire the CEO if he attempts to deviate from the mission. I was a bit alarmed by the…

It seems ironic that the research paper that started it all [0] deals with "costly signals": > Costly signals are statements or actions for which the sender will pay a price —political, reputational, or monetary—if they back down or fail to make good on their initial promise or threat Firing Sam Altman and hiring him back two days later was a perfect example of a costly signal, as it cost all involved their board pos…

This event was more than just a costly signal. The costly signal would have been "stop doing what you're doing or we'll remove you as ceo" and then not doing that.

But they did move forward with their threat and removed Sam as CEO with great reputational harm to the company. And now the board has been changed, with one less ally to Sam (Brockman no longer chairing the board). The move may not have ended up with the expected results, but this was much more than just a costly signal.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#628

Post by roody15 »

“The company also agreed to revamp the board of directors that had dismissed him. OpenAI named Bret Taylor, formerly co-CEO of Salesforce, as chair and also appointed Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary, to the board.”

Not looking good for the “Open” part of OpenAI.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#629

Post by csunbird »

s1artibartfast wrote: post #603
eclectic29 wrote: post #196

The media and the VCs are treating Sam like some hero and savior of AI. I’m not getting it. What has he done in life and/or AI to deserve so much respect and admiration? Why don’t top researchers and scientists get equivalent (if not more) respect, admiration and support? It looks like one should strive to become product manager, not an engineer or a scientist.

Altman seems to be a extraordinary leader, motivator, and strategizer. This itself is clear by the fact that 90% of the company was willing to walk out over his retention. Just think about that for minute.

No, the 90% of the employees were scared that their million $ salaries are going away along with Sam Altman.

Re: We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO

#630

Post by otteromkram »

tim333 wrote: post #538
eclectic29 wrote: post #196

The media and the VCs are treating Sam like some hero and savior of AI. I’m not getting it. What has he done in life and/or AI to deserve so much respect and admiration? Why don’t top researchers and scientists get equivalent (if not more) respect, admiration and support? It looks like one should strive to become product manager, not an engineer or a scientist.

I don't think the media are treating him as a "hero and savior of AI". However OpenAI and ChatGTP have undoubtedly been successful and he seems popular with his people. It's human nature to follow the top person as figurehead for an organisation as we or journalists don't have time or info to break down what each of the hundreds of employees contributed. I actually get the impression from the media that he's a bit sh…

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