Hiring Altman Won't End Microsoft's Woes

Microsoft still has a commitment of more than 13 billion to OpenAI

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After a chaotic few days of boardroom coups and attempted counter-coups at OpenAI, Microsoft Corp. said it would hire Sam Altman to lead a new artificial intelligence research team. It was a stunning turn for Microsoft, which had bet big on OpenAI and its former chief executive officer, Altman.

But it's not an ideal outcome for Altman or Microsoft. Which is why a group of OpenAI investors is still pushing for Altman's return as chief, a move Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he's open to.

Nearly all of OpenAI's roughly 770 employees have signed a letter to OpenAI's board threatening to quit unless its directors resign over their handling of Altman's termination.

"Microsoft has assured us that there are positions for all OpenAI employees at this new subsidiary should we choose to join," the letter read.