OpenAI, the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, is facing a wave of departures, with its Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, being the latest to announce her exit. Murati, who played a crucial role in the development of ChatGPT, shared a memo with the OpenAI team on Tuesday, citing a desire to explore new opportunities.
Murati’s departure comes amidst a tumultuous period for OpenAI, marked by the ousting and subsequent reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman. Last November, the OpenAI board removed Altman, citing concerns about his communication style. This sparked a backlash from employees, including Murati, who was appointed interim CEO. Following widespread protests and threats of resignation, Altman was eventually reinstated.
Murati’s exit follows a string of high-profile departures from OpenAI. In May, former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, leader of the ‘superalignment’ team, both resigned from the company. While Sutskever went on to launch his own AI startup, Safe Superintelligence (SSI), Leike joined Anthropic, a direct competitor to OpenAI. In August, OpenAI President Greg Brockman announced a sabbatical, and John Schulman, another co-founder, also joined Anthropic.
The recent departures have raised concerns about the stability and future direction of OpenAI. While Murati’s memo emphasizes a smooth transition, the company is facing an uphill battle to retain top talent and navigate the turbulent landscape of the AI industry. It remains to be seen how these events will impact OpenAI’s future, but the company’s ability to retain and attract top talent will be crucial to its success.
