Microsoft chief hints Sam Altman could still return as OpenAI staff demand board resignation
Sam Altman might still return to OpenAI after his ouster from the company, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella hinted. Chaos erupted at OpenAI on Friday as the company’s board abruptly fired its founder and chief Mr Altman, saying it “no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI”. Later, hundreds of the ChatGPT company’s employees threatened to quit unless its board resigned. When asked on Monday whether Mr Altman would join Microsoft, that has invested billions in the ChatGPT company, Mr Nadella said he was “open to both options”. “Look, that is for the OpenAI board and management and the employees to choose,” he told CNBC. “We obviously want Sam and Greg to have a fantastic home if they’re not going to be at OpenAI,” the Microsoft chief said. “We chose to explicitly partner with OpenAI and we want to continue to do so, and obviously, that depends on the people of OpenAI staying there or coming to Microsoft,” Mr Nadella had said. Microsoft later officially announced it was hiring Mr Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, who resigned on Friday. “Extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team,” Mr Nadella said in a post on X. “We look forward to moving quickly to provide them with the resources needed for their success,” he said. Mr Altman’s sacking was followed by about 500 staff at the company demanding the board’s resignation and the reinstatement of their dismissed boss. The employees signed a letter demanding OpenAI’s board resign and reinstate Mr Altman, claiming the decision to oust him jeopardised the company’s work. The letter was reportedly signed by several senior staff at OpenAI. Mira Murati, the company’s chief technology officer who was appointed as the interim chief following Mr Altman’s exit, was one of the signatories. Another signatory, Ilya Sutskever, the company’s chief scientist and one of the board members, expressed “deep regret” over the decision to remove Mr Altman. Employees at the company’s headquarters reportedly refused to attend an emergency all-hands meeting with new OpenAI boss Emmett Shear that was scheduled on Sunday. Some had responded to a Slack announcement with a middle-finger emoji, according to reports. Mr Nadella also said “it’s clear something has to change around the governance” at OpenAI. “We’ll have a good dialogue with their board on that, and walk through that as that evolves,” he said. Mr Altman said on X that his “top priority” remains to “ensure OpenAI continues to thrive”. “We are committed to fully providing continuity of operations to our partners and customers,” the ousted tech boss said on Monday. “We have more unity and commitment and focus than ever before. We are all going to work together some way or other, and I’m so excited. one team, one mission,” Mr Altman said. Read More OpenAI staff ‘threaten to quit over ousting of Sam Altman’ Microsoft’s new AI tool cleans up messy backgrounds in video calls First carbon capture plant opens in the US to help avoid climate catastrophe One of the world’s most hyped tech products just launched – and made a big mistake Musk files defamation suit against Media Matters over Nazi X post claims ‘We are broken’: Armenia looks to technology to rebuild
1970-01-01 08:00
On this day in 2007: England fail to qualify for Euro 2008 after Croatia defeat
England were beaten 3-2 by Croatia at Wembley on this day in 2007 to end their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 and seal the fate of manager Steve McClaren. Their failure to qualify for the Euros meant the writing was on the wall for McClaren, who was dismissed as boss a day later after 18 months in charge. McClaren had watched the dismal defeat unfold in the pouring rain at Wembley from under an umbrella and was dubbed the “wally with a brolly”. England only needed a draw to book their place at the finals in Austria and Switzerland but found themselves two goals down at the break, Scott Carson letting Niko Kranjcar’s 25-yard effort slip through his grasp for the first before former Arsenal striker Eduardo made it two. David Beckham came off the bench for his 99th cap and inspired an England comeback as he set up Peter Crouch for a superb equaliser shortly after Frank Lampard had converted a 56th-minute penalty to put England on course for qualification. But the fightback proved in vain as Croatia substitute Mladen Petric beat Carson from 20 yards 13 minutes from time to end England’s hopes. After the match McClaren declared he would not be stepping down, but the Football Association took the decision out of his hands by sacking him after just 18 games, making him the shortest-serving permanent England boss in history at the time. McClaren’s reign heralded just nine wins and ended with the team conceding three goals on home soil for the first time in 35 years. “I feel I have let the fans down and the country down,” said McClaren. “I knew that if we didn’t qualify that would put the board in a difficult position. “I can understand the decision, the reaction and the criticism. It hurts and disappoints me, but that is football and it will make me stronger in the future.” England turned next to Fabio Capello, while McClaren rebuilt his reputation by leading Dutch side FC Twente to the Eredivisie title in 2010 and had further spells at Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Newcastle and QPR and is now on the coaching staff at Manchester United. Read More Jalen Hurts grabs double as Philadelphia Eagles avenge Super Bowl loss Gareth Southgate hails Rico Lewis after strong England debut in North Macedonia Michael O’Neill calls Northern Ireland win over Denmark step in right direction
1970-01-01 08:00
Philippines Eyes Use of Digital Currency in Sovereign Bond Sales
The Philippines’ Bureau of the Treasury is looking to team up with the central bank to expand the
1970-01-01 08:00
Rasmus Andersson's overtime goal lifts Flames to 4-3 win over Kraken
Andrew Mangiapane scored with 4:07 left in regulation to pull Calgary even at 3-3, and Rasmus Andersson scored the winner 3:28 into overtime and the Flames rallied for a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken
1970-01-01 08:00
South Africa’s Telkom in Exclusive Talks to Sell Towers to PE Firm
Telkom SA SOC Ltd. is in advanced talks to sell its tower assets to a private equity firm.
1970-01-01 08:00
Blackstone to close multi-strategy fund after assets drop nearly 90% - FT
Blackstone plans to close a fund that exposes investors to a variety of hedge funds and trading strategies
1970-01-01 08:00
China Wealth Fund’s Infrastructure Head Resigns in Latest Loss
China Investment Corp.’s head of infrastructure investment is leaving, adding to the talent loss at the $1.4 trillion
1970-01-01 08:00
Curry extends NBA 3-point shooting record as Warriors top Rockets 121-116
Stephen Curry scored 32 points with five 3-pointers to extend his latest NBA record, Klay Thompson broke out of his shooting slump with a season-high 20 points, and the Golden State Warriors snapped their six-game losing streak with a 121-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night
1970-01-01 08:00
Crypto Boosted by Possible End to US Criminal Probe of Binance
The prospect of a resolution of the US criminal investigation into Binance, crypto’s linchpin exchange, led to a
1970-01-01 08:00
India Closer to Agreement With Tesla to Import EVs, Set Up Plant
India is closing in on an agreement with Tesla Inc. that would allow the US automaker to ship
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB Insider: What I’m hearing about the Braves, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Pirates
As free agency begins to pick up, there are indications it will continue to gain steam headed into Thanksgiving. Here's what I'm hearing a couple weeks before the Winter Meetings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Dubai’s First Privatization in a Year Sells Out in an Hour
Dubai Taxi Co.’s initial public offering of as much as 1.16 billion dirhams ($315 million) received enough orders
1970-01-01 08:00
