Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes that OpenAI should have consulted Microsoft before firing former CEO Sam Altman. He believes that it would have been the “very least” that the board could have done, given their investment in the company and the deep partnership between the two companies.
Nadella said on Kara Swisher’s podcast that Microsoft only learned of Altman’s removal when OpenAI went public with the announcement, and he is disappointed that they were not informed of such a significant decision. He believes that as a partner, OpenAI should have consulted Microsoft on big decisions.
Last Friday, OpenAI announced Altman’s firing as CEO, citing lack of consistency in his communications with the board. The board did not provide further details about why he was removed as CEO. The news led to chaos at OpenAI, resulting in the appointment of former Twitch chief Emmett Shear as interim CEO over the weekend.
On Monday, Nadella announced that he had hired Altman and former OpenAI president Greg Brockman to head Microsoft’s new advanced AI research team. However, nearly all of OpenAI’s staff are threatening to quit unless the board resigns and Altman returns as CEO. Nadella seems prepared for this possibility and has stated that Microsoft will support whoever remains at OpenAI or whatever.