What Microsoft Executives Thought About OpenAI in 2018
19 hours ago
- #Microsoft-OpenAI relationship
- #AI funding skepticism
- #Musk v. Altman trial
- Microsoft executives hesitated to invest in OpenAI in 2018, despite pressure to prevent OpenAI from partnering with Amazon.
- OpenAI's early work focused on gaming AI, but it required more computing power than initially planned, leading to requests for additional Microsoft Azure credits.
- Internal emails reveal skepticism among Microsoft leaders about OpenAI's claims of imminent AGI breakthroughs and concerns over financial risks.
- Microsoft eventually invested $1 billion in 2019 after OpenAI created a for-profit arm, leading to a partnership that committed $13 billion by 2023.
- The emails were presented in the Musk v. Altman trial to illustrate Microsoft's evolving and complex relationship with OpenAI, including allegations of aiding a shift from nonprofit principles.