Sam Altman, former CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly working on a new artificial intelligence venture. This comes after his sudden ousting from OpenAI, which also led to the resignation of former president Greg Brockman. Altman’s new venture could see Brockman joining him, according to sources familiar with the matter. However, neither Altman nor Brockman have officially confirmed or commented on this plan.
The decision to remove Altman as CEO of OpenAI triggered some backlash, with some researchers at the company, such as Szymon Sidor, leaving in protest. It remains unclear if they will be joining Altman’s new venture.
Previous reports have stated that Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive have been discussing the creation of a new AI hardware device. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has also been involved in these discussions.
The OpenAI board cited a breakdown of communication as the reason for Altman’s dismissal, stating that it was not due to any wrongdoings on his part.
Reporting for Reuters on the venture capital and startup scene, Krystal Hu focuses on Silicon Valley with a particular interest in growth-stage startups, tech investments, and AI. Previously, she has covered M&A for Reuters and reported on Amazon for Yahoo Finance, with her investigative work cited by lawmakers in Congress. Hu has a Master’s degree from New York University and has a passion for Matcha ice cream and breaking news.
Anna Tong is a correspondent for Reuters based in San Francisco, covering the technology industry. She joined Reuters in 2023 after working as a data editor for the San Francisco Standard. Tong has experience in the tech industry, having previously worked as a product manager for startups and in user insights at Google. She graduated from Harvard University.
Jeffrey Dastin is also a correspondent for Reuters in San Francisco, reporting on the technology industry and artificial intelligence. He joined Reuters in 2014, and his past coverage includes airlines and travel. Dastin is a graduate of Yale University, with a degree in history. He was part of a team that received a SOPA Award in 2022 for their investigation into Amazon’s lobbying practices around the world.