OpenAI gains veteran support from a former Microsoft AI researcher — potentially expediting the ChatGPT maker’s trajectory toward Sam Altman’s coveted AGI benchmark

OpenAI gains veteran support from a former Microsoft AI researcher —  potentially expediting the ChatGPT maker's trajectory toward Sam Altman's coveted AGI benchmark

What you need to know

  • Veteran Microsoft AI researcher Sebastian Bubeck has left the tech giant to join OpenAI.
  • Bubeck will help the ChatGPT maker in its efforts toward reaching artificial general intelligence (AGI).
  • Microsoft claims that despite his departure, it “looks forward to continuing our relationship through his work with OpenAI.”

As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I find myself intrigued by the latest move made by Sebastian Bubeck, the veteran AI researcher who recently left Microsoft to join OpenAI. Having worked for over a decade at one of the biggest tech giants in the world, Bubeck’s decision to switch sides is undoubtedly a bold one and a testament to his unwavering passion for artificial intelligence.


It came as a surprise when Sebastian Bubeck, a prominent AI researcher at Microsoft, decided to switch teams and join OpenAI. Bubeck has been with Microsoft for more than a decade, where he led projects involving compact language models such as the Phi AI models. (Source: The Information)

The seasoned professional will be teaming up with the company behind ChatGPT to aid in their journey towards achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). After Bubeck’s departure, the tech titan signaled:

We value the efforts Sebastian has put into Microsoft, and we’re excited to keep collaborating with him as he works on projects at OpenAI.

Despite the unexpected nature of Bubeck’s exit from Microsoft, it’s anticipated that he will persist in enhancing and managing OpenAI’s small language model division, maintaining its growth and development.

A win for OpenAI?

OpenAI gains veteran support from a former Microsoft AI researcher —  potentially expediting the ChatGPT maker's trajectory toward Sam Altman's coveted AGI benchmark

Over the recent period, OpenAI has faced criticism and seen a significant number of key personnel leave, among whom are Mira Murati (CTO), Bob McGrew (Chief Research Officer), and Barret Zoph (Vice President of Research. As of now, Sam Altman, one of the original founders, remains as CEO at OpenAI.

Employee departures may be linked to a perceived emphasis on eye-catching products over safety protocols, as well as disputes among senior management over the delivery of advanced AI models. It has been speculated that the company responsible for ChatGPT hastily released GPT-40.

Although an OpenAI representative acknowledges that their safety team faced significant stress, leading to a hurried testing process, they insist that OpenAI did not compromise on safety standards. Nevertheless, it’s been reported that the company extended RSVP invitations for the ChatGPT launch prior to the actual testing phase.

A recently published report discloses that Ilya Sutskever, formerly OpenAI’s Chief Scientist, suddenly left the company, causing high-ranking executives to worry about its survival. It is said that they extended various job offers to Sutskever, but due to the company’s internal reorganization, they were unable to find a fitting role for one of the cofounders.

Following the successful avoidance of bankruptcy, OpenAI is now projected to suffer approximately $5 billion in losses over the next year. However, recent investments totaling $6.6 billion from backers such as Microsoft and NVIDIA have boosted its market value to an impressive $157 billion.

Investors have already started raising concerns about AI firms’ spending on projects, claiming it’s difficult to establish a profitable path in the AI landscape. In contrast, market analysts and experts predict that OpenAI could become the world’s dominant AI company, worth trillions of dollars. 

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2024-10-15 14:09