Microsoft offers to match salaries for OpenAI employees

Microsoft's CTO has assured OpenAI workers that they can maintain their salaries if they jump ship.

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The AI business has been in a tizzy since OpenAI made the shocking move to give CEO Sam Altman the boot last week. Things got even more complicated when it was revealed that Altman had been hired by Microsoft to lead a new AI research team, and that the two-trillion dollar corporation has been courting employees from OpenAI to reunite with Altman on the new team. In its latest attempt to lure employees away from OpenAI, Microsoft has offered to match their salaries.

Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott tweeted this morning about the ongoing situation at OpenAI and Microsoft. “To my partners at OpenAI: We have seen your petition and appreciate your desire potentially to join Sam Altman at Microsoft’s new AI Research Lab,” he wrote. “Know that if needed, you have a role at Microsoft that matches your compensation and advances our collective mission.”

The exterior of a Microsoft Store.

This adds even more pressure to OpenAI’s board of directors, who were ordered to resign in a letter signed by 505 of OpenAI’s 700 employees. The signees also threatened to leave the company and join Sam Altman at Microsoft should their request not be honored. The guaranteed salary match will likely further incentivise workers to make the move from OpenAI to Microsoft.

With increased pressure on OpenAI’s board to resign and reinstate Sam Altman as CEO, this continues to be one of the year’s most fascinating tech stories. With new developments seemingly coming out every day, you can expect to read the latest updates here on Shacknews.

News Editor

Donovan is a young journalist from Maryland, who likes to game. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge Scream nerd and film fanatic that will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_

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