3 6 Ke·2026-01-21 08:56Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the dramatic internal conflict at OpenAI, particularly the removal and subsequent reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman, highlighting Microsoft's strategic involvement and the competitive landscape surrounding OpenAI. Group 1: OpenAI's Internal Conflict - OpenAI experienced a rapid internal upheaval, leading to the unexpected firing of CEO Sam Altman, followed by employee pressure on the board for his reinstatement [3][11] - Microsoft played a crucial role in this situation, offering a $25 billion guarantee to OpenAI employees to prevent them from leaving for competitors like Google or Amazon [3][9] - The board's decision to remove Altman was met with significant backlash from nearly 800 OpenAI employees, who threatened to resign if he was not reinstated [11][12] Group 2: Microsoft's Strategic Moves - Microsoft quickly established a new subsidiary named "Microsoft RAI, Inc." to potentially absorb OpenAI employees, completing all legal paperwork within a day [8][9] - The urgency of Microsoft's actions was driven by the fear of losing talent to competitors during OpenAI's internal turmoil [9][11] - Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella actively supported Altman's return and was involved in discussions about the new board composition at OpenAI [15][12] Group 3: Historical Context of Microsoft and OpenAI - Initially, OpenAI partnered with Amazon, but Microsoft later became a significant investor, providing $1 billion in exchange for exclusive cloud computing rights [16][20] - The relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI has been complex, with Microsoft expressing doubts about OpenAI's commercial viability in the past [3][20] - OpenAI's transition to a capped-profit model allowed it to attract further investment from Microsoft, which has since become a major player in the AI landscape [20][22] Group 4: Future Directions and Challenges - OpenAI is shifting towards a more independent operational model, signing a $38 billion infrastructure deal with Amazon to reduce reliance on Microsoft [25][27] - The company is also facing legal challenges from Elon Musk, who claims that OpenAI has strayed from its original non-profit mission [27][29] - OpenAI's CFO is leading efforts to diversify its partnerships and avoid dependency on any single cloud service provider, aiming to establish itself as a leader in the AI industry [31]