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The original was posted on /r/singularity by /u/After_Self5383 on 2024-09-28 16:32:36+00:00.

Original Title: Juicy article from WSJ on Open AI’s internal conflicts. Possible explanations for why Greg Brockman went on leave (Sam told him to because he was annoying employees), Mira Murati’s frustrations, why Ilya didn’t return, etc.

"In addition to the other executive departures, one of Altman’s key lieutenants—Brockman—is on sabbatical.

Brockman is seen as a longtime worker loyal to OpenAI. When OpenAI was founded in 2015, it originally operated out of Brockman’s living room. Later, he got married at the company’s offices on a workday.

But as OpenAI grew, his management style caused tension. Though president, Brockman didn’t have direct reports. He tended to get involved in any projects he wanted, often frustrating those involved, according to current and former employees. They said he demanded last-minute changes to long-planned initiatives, prompting other executives, including Murati, to intervene to smooth things over.

For years, staffers urged Altman to rein in Brockman, saying his actions demoralized employees. Those concerns persisted through this year, when Altman and Brockman agreed he should take a leave of absence."

"Murati and President Greg Brockman told Sutskever that the company was in disarray and might collapse without him.

They visited his home, bringing him cards and letters from other employees urging him to return.

Altman visited him as well and expressed regret that others at OpenAI hadn’t found a solution.

Sutskever indicated to his former OpenAI colleagues that he was seriously considering coming back. But soon after, Brockman called and said OpenAI was rescinding the offer for him to return.

Internally, executives had run into trouble determining what Sutskever’s new role would be and how he would work alongside other researchers, including his successor as chief scientist. "