I agree this is likely disastrous for OpenAI's current corporate structure, and Microsoft will be very unhappy. But as an ML researcher, I suspect lots of researchers are going to continue to follow Ilya, unless his reputation has significantly changed (he does seem a lot more doomer-y recently ...)
>>mxwsn+(OP)
It just doesn’t matter what his reputation is if the money dries up. To play in the big leagues you need deep pockets, regardless of how talented your staff is.