Earlier quoted context omitted.
Alternative theory: ChatGPT was a runaway hit product that sucked up a lot of the organization's resources and energy. Sam and Greg wanted to roll with it and others on the board did not. They voted on it and one side won. There isn't a bigger, more interesting story here. This is in fact a very common story that plays out at many software companies. The board of openai ended up making a decision that destroyed billi…
The board of openai ended up making a decision that destroyed billions of dollars worth of brand value and good will Maybe I’m special or something, but nothing changed to me. I always wonder why people suddenly lose “trust” in a brand, as if it was a concrete of internal relationships or something. Everyone knows that “corporate” is probably a snakepit. When it comes out to public, it’s not a sign of anything, it ju…
Brand is just shorthand for trust in their future, managed by a credible team. I.e. relationships.
A lot of OpenAI’s reputation is/was Sam Altman’s reputation.
Altman has proven himself to be exceptional, part of which is (of course) being able to be seen as exceptional.
Just the latter has tremendous relationship power: networking, employee acquisition/retention, and employee vision alignment.
Proof of his internal relationship value: employees quitting to go with him
Proof of his external relationship value: Microsoft willing to hire him and his teammates, with near zero notice, to maintain (or eclipse) his power over the OpenAI relationship.
How can investors ignore a massive move of talent, relationships & leverage from OpenAi to Microsoft?
How do investors ignore the board’s inability to resolve poorly communicated disputes with non-disastrous “solutions”?
Evidence of value moving? Shares of Microsoft rebounded from Friday to a new record high.
There go those wacky investors, re-evaluating “brand” value!