Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he is open to Sam Altman returning to OpenAI rather than joining his company. Nadella said in the interview that whether Altman joins Microsoft or returns to OpenAI — as the startup's investors have been trying to arrange — the entrepreneur will work with Microsoft.
Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest investor, which means the software giant will inevitably maintain a relationship with Altman. Last week, Altman was removed as CEO of OpenAI.
"Wherever Sam is, he's working for Microsoft," Nadella said.
On Sunday local time, Nadella announced that he would hire Altman to run a new artificial intelligence division at Microsoft, one of many shocking twists in OpenAI. News of Altman's firing from OpenAI on Friday shocked Silicon Valley, and the startup's investors have been lobbying for his return.
By Monday, nearly all OpenAI employees were threatening to resign and follow Altman to Microsoft unless the current board resigned.
Nadella said he was not informed of any wrongdoing by Altman at OpenAI. "I remain confident in Sam and his leadership, which is why we welcome him to Microsoft," he said in the interview.
Whatever happens, OpenAI will need to change its governance, he said.
"Surprise is a bad thing, and we just want to make sure that their style of conduct is conducive to collaboration," Nadella said. Making major changes without Microsoft's involvement "would be inappropriate, and we will certainly make sure that some of the necessary changes happen."
Nadella said he had not been told why Altman was fired. "I wasn't told anything," Nadella said. "The board didn't talk about anything that Sam did, other than some communication issues."