OpenAI employees sign petition demanding reinstatement of Sam Altman or threatening mass exodus to Microsoft

A circulating petition letter on Twitter, signed by current employees including OpenAI's CTO Mira Murati, demands the return of founder Sam Altman and board member Greg Brockman. They threaten to resign and join a Microsoft subsidiary operated by Sam Altman if the current board does not step down.

OpenAI voices out collectively! CTO Mira Murati: Without the OpenAI team, it is nothing.

Rumor: OpenAI Employees Sign Letter to Pressure Board

Letter to the Board of OpenAI,

OpenAI is a world-leading AI company. We, the employees of OpenAI, have developed the best models and pushed the field to new frontiers. Our work in AI safety and governance is shaping global standards. The products we've built are used by millions worldwide. Until now, the company we work for and care about has never been in a stronger position.

Your termination of Sam Altman and removal of Greg Brockman from the board jeopardizes all of our work and undermines our mission and company. Your actions clearly demonstrate your inability to oversee OpenAI.

When we learned of your decision, OpenAI's leadership team quickly took action to stabilize the company. They listened carefully to your concerns and attempted to work with you on all fronts. Despite multiple requests for specific evidence of the allegations, you have provided no written proof. They have become increasingly aware of your inability to carry out your duties and negotiate in good faith.

The leadership team suggested that the most stable path forward, and one that is most beneficial to our mission, company, stakeholders, employees, and the public, is for you to resign and form a qualified board that can lead the company forward steadily.

The leadership has worked around the clock to find a solution that works for both sides. However, within two days of your initial decision, you once again acted against the best interests of the company by replacing interim CEO Mira Murati. You also informed the leadership team that letting the company be destroyed "is in line with the mission."

Your actions have made it clear that you are unfit to oversee OpenAI. We cannot work for or with someone lacking the competence, judgment, and care for our mission and employees. We, the undersigned, may choose to resign from OpenAI and join the new Microsoft subsidiary operated by Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. Microsoft has assured us that if we choose to join, this new subsidiary will provide positions for all OpenAI employees. We will take this action immediately unless all current board members resign and the board appoints two new primary independent directors, such as Bret Taylor and Will Hurd, and reinstates Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.

Diagram of OpenAI Company Structure: Sam Altman and the board have no equity? Why can Microsoft only watch?

Crypto Community: Is This a DAO?

The crypto community describes this as a DAO vote happening on Twitter.

That’s what I thought of too.

Usually this kind of thing is done in boardrooms.

But with everything playing out on Twitter, it’s like a public DAO vote.

— Balaji (@balajis) November 20, 2023