Despite the lack of interest in joining Microsoft, many OpenAI employees felt pressured to sign an open letter threatening to leave. If OpenAI had collapsed, employees stood to lose significant amounts of money, with base salaries typically starting at $300,000 and equity packages worth $2 million over four years. Microsoft had verbally agreed to match OpenAI employees' compensation, but this was seen as unlikely by some. The situation caused anger among Microsoft employees, who had seen layoffs, salary freezes, and bonus cuts.
Key takeaways:
- After Sam Altman was fired from OpenAI, the startup's employees threatened to leave and join Microsoft, which had offered to hire them all. However, this was largely a bluff as most employees had no real interest in working for Microsoft.
- OpenAI employees felt pressured to sign an open letter demanding Altman's reinstatement and the resignation of the board. They saw Microsoft as a slow, bureaucratic company, the opposite of their startup culture.
- Money was a significant factor for OpenAI employees, with millions of dollars in equity at stake. Microsoft had verbally agreed to match their compensation, but this was seen as unlikely, particularly regarding equity.
- Microsoft employees were upset about the company's offer to match OpenAI salaries, especially after layoffs, salary freezes, and bonus and stock award cuts at Microsoft.