This coup is badly executed though. OpenAI’s reputation is hurt irreparably
Maybe it is a good thing now other companies can finally have a window to catch up
Maybe it is a good thing now other companies can finally have a window to catch up
I've seen this language used a few times now. A company's CEO is appointed by, and serves the goals of the board. Not the other way around. When the board perceives that the CEO isn't doing this, they can fire him. That's neither metaphorically or literally a coup.
Especially bad narrative in this case because openAI has given itself a charter (and legal structure that subjects the for-profit arm to the non-profit) that stresses safe and broadly beneficial AI development. If this is Ilya, the chief scientist, wanting to take it back into that direction, from Altman, a salesman, that will not hurt its reputation. (maybe it's stock value)
Unless they can bring solid evidence of Sam has some irredeemable misconduct to the table. Otherwise, this is exactly what a coup is, a grab of power, with the current power center, not knowing about it.
The board needs to explain themselves immediately, if they think this is idealogical disagreement, they should come clean, and tell us so. Not some nefarious language on Sam's candidance.
I am nobody, just a user of OpenAI's API. However, if this is how the current management structure functions in OpenAI, I will have serious concern over OpenAI's ability to execute next.
The exit of talents is now destined, OpenAI as a company is hurt irreparably.
I can't say if this will work, but I think the message is pretty clear. No more random product launches like the GPT store, but rather focus on the core: building the AI, testing it and launching when it's safe.
To be honest, I've also found them getting too diluted in offerings. Why not let other startups focus on those things? Let Openai focus on the core models and give tools to others to build/finetune things. They can be the infrastructure of the AI world, they don't need to create every product.
Again, we will only know in the future if this is the right decision. But there is a strong case to be made here, especially with the company's original mission and non-profit status.
This coup or ousting of Sam, isn’t boosting my faith in this company at all.
Talents exit is a serious concern