Satya Nadella Confirms Altman and Brockman to Lead Microsoft's Advanced AI Research Team

Microsoft made headlines on Sunday by welcoming former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Co-Founder Greg Brockman to lead Microsoft’s Advanced AI research team. Altman’s unexpected exit from OpenAI’s leadership, coupled with the controversy surrounding the board’s decision, hasn’t dampened his prospects as he finds a new home at Microsoft. The tech giant’s CEO, Satya Nadella, confirmed the recruitment, expressing unwavering confidence in Altman and Brockman’s abilities.

“Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, along with their team, will head our newly established advanced AI research team,” announced Nadella, highlighting their vision and expertise. He also expressed eagerness to facilitate their success by providing the necessary resources for their endeavors. Nadella’s faith in Altman’s leadership aligns with Microsoft’s approach of nurturing independent identities and cultures within the company, a strategy successfully employed with entities like GitHub, Mojang Studios, and LinkedIn.

Altman responded with a tweet, asserting that “the mission continues,” signifying a steadfast commitment to furthering AI innovation.

I’m super excited to have you join as CEO of this new group, Sam, setting a new pace for innovation. We’ve learned a lot over the years about how to give founders and innovators space to build independent identities and cultures within Microsoft, including GitHub, Mojang Studios,…
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 20, 2023

The move marks a significant development following Altman’s departure from OpenAI, where Emmett Shear, former Twitch CEO, has stepped in as the interim CEO, replacing Mira Murati, who was named interim CEO just a day before. Altman’s role at Microsoft is poised to further the company’s strategy of fostering innovative spaces for creators, in line with its track record of empowering independent entities.

This strategic recruitment coincides with Microsoft’s foray into developing its custom AI chip, the Maia AI chip, aimed at training expansive language models. This endeavor signals Microsoft’s determination to diversify its AI infrastructure, reducing reliance on Nvidia.

Despite the personnel changes, Microsoft reassures its commitment to its partnership with OpenAI, emphasizing continuous innovation and unwavering support for its clientele and associates. As Altman and Brockman take charge of Microsoft’s advanced AI research, industry stakeholders are keenly observing the potential synergy between these high-profile figures and the resources Microsoft offers. Simultaneously, the industry remains attentive to OpenAI’s trajectory under new leadership, gauging its ability to maintain its exceptional performance.

The appointment of these renowned figures at Microsoft’s helm of AI research sets the stage for groundbreaking advancements, presenting an exciting prospect for the future of AI technology.