Show Notes: AI for Everyone Special Episode - "Massive Shake-up in Silicon Valley: The Sam Altman Saga"

Episode Date: November 21, 2023

Introduction:

• Welcome to a special episode of AI for Everyone. I'm Myles Dhillon, and today we delve into a seismic event that recently rocked Silicon Valley, featuring the unexpected firing of Sam Altman from OpenAI.

Timeline of Events:

November 16: Thursday

• Ilya Sutskever initiates a call with Sam Altman.
• Mira Murati, OpenAI’s CTO and interim CEO, is informed on Thursday night about Altman's impending firing.

November 17: Friday

• Greg Brockman is demoted but retains his role as president.
• Sam Altman's firing becomes public.
• All-hands meeting held, where Sutskever defends Altman's removal.
• Greg Brockman resigns, expressing shock and sadness.
• Three senior OpenAI researchers, including Jakub Pachocki and Aleksander Madry, also resign.

November 18: Saturday

• OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap cites a breakdown in communication in an internal memo.
• Planned sale of OpenAI employee shares, valuing the startup at $86 billion, is jeopardized.
• Altman plans a new venture, with Brockman expected to join.
• Investors pressure OpenAI's board to reinstate Altman; the board agrees in principle but misses a deadline.

November 19: Sunday

• Altman expected to meet at OpenAI’s headquarters as executives push for reinstatement.
• Board negotiations hit a snag as some members resist reinstating Altman.
• Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, appointed interim CEO, replacing Murati.
• Altman tweets a picture of his access pass to the office.

November 20: Monday

• Microsoft announces Altman will lead its new in-house AI team.
• Satya Nadella's statement: "Sam Altman will lead the new in-house group..."
• Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI and a board member, joins Altman in Microsoft's new AI team.
• Nadella states Microsoft will swiftly provide necessary resources for Altman and Brockman's success.
• Microsoft expresses commitment to its partnership with OpenAI and confidence in its product roadmap.
• Microsoft shares initially dropped with Altman's ousting but rose 2.7% in premarket trading.

Conclusion:

• Join us as we analyze the fallout, the industry's reactions, and the implications for the future of AI. This is a special episode you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more updates on AI for Everyone.

Note: Stay connected for our regular scheduled episodes for comprehensive coverage on AI trends, advancements, and their impact on everyone.

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