OpenAI’s “collapse” fears reportedly date back to Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever’s abrupt departure — beyond recent bankruptcy reports with projections of $5 billion in losses within the next 12 months

OpenAI's "collapse" fears reportedly date back to Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever's abrupt departure — beyond recent bankruptcy reports with projections of $5 billion in losses within the next 12 months

What you need to know

  • According to a new report, high-profile execs at OpenAI feared the firm would collapse after Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever abruptly left to focus on a “personally meaningful” project.
  • The executives reportedly tried to get the Chief Scientist to return to work, but it proved difficult to find a suitable position for the co-founder amid company restructures.
  • OpenAI was reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy with projections of $5 billion in losses within the next 12 months, but it managed to raise billions in a new funding round with NVIDIA and Microsoft at the last minute. 

As a seasoned researcher with a knack for unraveling the intricacies of corporate dynamics, I find myself both captivated and concerned by the tumultuous journey of OpenAI. The recent departures of high-profile execs, including Ilya Sutskever, have left me scratching my head.


As a researcher, I’ve been closely observing the evolutions at OpenAI over the past few months, particularly following the departures of key figures like Mira Murati (CTO), Bob McGrew (Chief Research Officer), and Barret Zoph (Vice President of Research. Notably, there was a brief period when OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, faced scrutiny after an unexpected decision by the board of directors to remove him from his position, eventually leading to his reinstatement five days later in response to growing staff support. This has undeniably been a time of significant change at OpenAI.

It has been learned that the high-ranking officials at OpenAI were concerned following the unexpected departure of their Chief Scientist, Ilya Sutskever. Sutskever’s exit coincided with several members of the safety team departing from OpenAI, leading to whispers about the company favoring flashy products over safety protocols. However, Sutskever stated he was leaving to focus on a project that held personal significance for him. Later, he established Superintelligence Inc., where he is dedicated to developing safe superintelligence.

Based on a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, Ilya Sutskever’s exit left top officials in a state of apprehension, voicing concerns about the potential demise of their AI company. In an attempt to keep the Chief Scientist within their ranks, these executives are said to have offered him a fresh and potentially attractive employment proposition.

Yet, it appears that their obvious effort was met with a frosty response, as Sutskever persists in advancing the cause of safe superintelligence through his latest AI company, which has just secured $1 billion in investment funds from backers.

According to a representative talking to Business Insider, the points made in The Wall Street Journal’s article were contradicted. Yet, it was acknowledged that transforming from an obscure lab into a worldwide firm offering cutting-edge AI technology to tens of millions of people within only two years necessitates change and adaptation.

Behind OpenAI’s closed doors…

OpenAI's "collapse" fears reportedly date back to Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever's abrupt departure — beyond recent bankruptcy reports with projections of $5 billion in losses within the next 12 months

Prior to my departure from the company, I held positions as the Chief Scientist and a board member. During this tenure, I stood in support of Altman’s dismissal as CEO. It’s strange to note that, following Altman’s reappointment as CEO, I have not been present at work.

Jan Leike, who oversees super alignment at OpenAI, along with several other team members, decided to part ways from the company. This departure resulted in the dissolution of that particular team. Yet, swiftly, a new safety team was established within the firm, comprising former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati and President Greg Brockman.

In that period, it seems Brockman and Murati tried to persuade Sutskever to come back to work by paying him a visit at his residence and delivering letters from fellow colleagues. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal claims Altman also visited Sutskever, voicing his displeasure over not being able to find a suitable position for him during the company’s reorganization.

It appeared that Sutskever might be open to going back to work and was possibly prepared for it. But, unfortunately, all attempts were in vain as Brockman allegedly withdrew the offer during a phone conversation, explaining that they couldn’t find an appropriate role for the Chief Scientist within the new company setup.

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2024-10-03 11:40