zlacker

Can someone help me understand what Sam's actual value is? He doesn't seem to be a particularly important practitioner/researcher re: AI and is "just" a CEO/salesman-evangelist to get funding, which Microsoft doesn't need?

Is he particularly apt at leading/managing research teams? OpenAI's slow productization doesn't imply he's a product/idea guy a la Jobs.

>>mighmi+(OP)
Microsoft would at least like him not to do that job for a competitor.

Given they paid for a big stake in the market leader, and their stock price movements when this drama erupted, keeping these people in-house can be seen as damage control.

>>mighmi+(OP)
Hiring famous well known big names of the industry (even if they're useless and will just coast for crazy money) sends a strong signal to investors and will most likely boost MSFT stock price during this ongoing AI bubble.

And once the AI bubble pops as everyone learns AGI indeed NOT 'around the corner', Microsoft will silently let him go with a golden parachute in the 8 figure ballpark.

At least that's what I learned from watching the Silicon Valley satire.

>>mighmi+(OP)
The people that would rather have him as boss.

I know several people that keep changing company when their favourite leardership changes into another one.

>>mighmi+(OP)
A lot of experienced OpenAI engineers/scientists apparently want to come with him. Those people clearly have a lot of value to Microsoft since they've invested heavily in OpenAI. Imagine having poured billions in to that firm to discover half the reason you invested is walking out the door...

>>anonym+T
Sure. But Sam Altman is an ambitious man. Why would he accept this instead of fundraising and creating another company? I think there would be more details of this arrangement surfacing these coming days. It is unlikely a traditional team within a large corporation.

>>mighmi+(OP)
It feels more like face saving and to keep balance with investors and stocks etc..

>>Firmwa+51
This is a good point. I hadn't noticed Microsoft's share price dropping 20% on the initial announcement.

>>WiSaGa+S2
Maybe he needs a salary!

>>Firmwa+51
These things just show over and over again how irrational the "market" behaves. Most of all it's a big hype train and you better be lucky on the time to hop on or off.

If you are the lucky CEO of a company during the phase of success, investors will associate you with success. It's just easier to identify than understanding what the company does in detail and why it is successful or will/won't be in the future.

Good for Sam.