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☆ OpenAI’s New Board Takes Over and Says Microsoft Will Have Observer Role
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Deepa Seetharaman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

OpenAI said late Tuesday that Sam Altman will return to the artificial-intelligence company as CEO, with a new initial board. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan analyzes the latest developments. Photo: John G Mabanglo/ShutterstockOpenAI’s new board formally took over on Wednesday and said it would add an observer role for partner Microsoft , capping a dramatic chapter for the artificial-intelligence startup and launching a new phase of difficult decisions. The new board’s initial three members were decided as part of CEO Sam Altman ’s return last week after the previous board abruptly fired him. The replacement directors’ priorities include creating an independent committee to review the events around Altman’s ouster, said Bret Taylor , the board’s chairman.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tom Dotan, John G Mabanglo, Sam Altman ’, Bret Taylor Organizations: Microsoft

☆ Microsoft Needs a Better Seat at OpenAI’s Table
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

OpenAI said late Tuesday that Sam Altman will return to the artificial-intelligence company as CEO, with a new initial board. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan analyzes the latest developments. Photo: John G Mabanglo/ShutterstockMicrosoft played a weak hand rather well in the drama that engulfed OpenAI last week. But the tech giant now has a complicated task ahead: It needs to solidify its relationship with the high-profile startup while also showing it can chart its own course in the vital field of artificial intelligence. In the interim, Microsoft announced plans to hire Altman directly, along with any other OpenAI employees who cared to join.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tom Dotan, John G Mabanglo, Satya Nadella’s, Altman Organizations: Microsoft, OpenAI Locations: OpenAI

☆ The Unexpected Winner in the Craziest Week in AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Ben Cohen | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/satya-nadella-microsoft-ceo-ai-openai-altman-85e75531

Persons: Dow Jones, altman Organizations: microsoft

☆ The Biggest Winner in the OpenAI Fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Ben Cohen | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones, altman Organizations: microsoft

OpenAI said late Tuesday that Sam Altman will return to the artificial-intelligence company as CEO, with a new initial board. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan analyzes the latest developments. Photo: John G Mabanglo/ShutterstockSam Altman is back at the helm of OpenAI, days after the board abruptly ousted him. The deal struck Tuesday night to restore Altman as CEO is a long way from the ultimate goal he wanted to achieve heading into a weekend of intense negotiations. He had lobbied for an entirely new slate of directors—built on the ashes of the directors who fired him—and wanted to rejoin the board again himself, according to people familiar with the matter.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tom Dotan, John G Mabanglo, Altman, — Locations: OpenAI

☆ OpenAI Says Sam Altman Will Return as CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

OpenAI Says Sam Altman Will Return as CEOOpenAI said late Tuesday that Sam Altman will return to the artificial-intelligence company as CEO, with a new initial board. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan analyzes the latest developments. Photo: John G Mabanglo/Shutterstock

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tom Dotan, John G Mabanglo

☆ Larry Summers Is OpenAI’s Surprise Pick to Mend Fences
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Newley Purnell | Keach Hagey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

OpenAI said late Tuesday that Sam Altman will return to the artificial-intelligence company as CEO, with a new initial board. WSJ reporter Tom Dotan analyzes the latest developments. Photo: John G Mabanglo/ShutterstockAs Sam Altman looks to steer OpenAI following the turmoil of his ouster and return as chief executive, he will be working with an initial board of directors consisting of two new faces—and one holdover from the previous board that fired him. The two joiners are seasoned tech veteran Bret Taylor , who was formerly co-CEO of Salesforce and chairman of Twitter, and Larry Summers , the onetime Treasury secretary and Harvard University president whose appointment surprised some observers. Remaining on the board is Adam D’Angelo , a former Facebook executive and the founder of the question-and-answer website Quora, a potential sign that Altman may not have everything his own way after his dramatic reinstatement late Tuesday.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tom Dotan, John G Mabanglo, Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, Adam D’Angelo, Altman Organizations: Twitter, Harvard University, Facebook

Sam Altman’s bid to return to artificial intelligence company OpenAI faltered on Sunday, as the board that fired him didn’t agree to the proposed terms of his reinstatement. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO—Microsoft said it is hiring Sam Altman to helm a new advanced artificial-intelligence research team, after his bid to return to OpenAI fell apart Sunday with the board that fired him declining to agree to the proposed terms of his reinstatement. Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella posted on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday that Altman and Greg Brockman , OpenAI’s president and co-founder who resigned Friday in protest over Altman’s ouster, will lead its team alongside unspecified colleagues. Nadella said Microsoft was committed to its partnership with OpenAI and that it would move quickly to provide Altman and Brockman with “the resources needed for their success.”

Persons: Sam Altman’s, OpenAI, Patrick T, Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Altman, Greg Brockman, Nadella, Brockman, ” Organizations: Fallon, Agence France, Microsoft, OpenAI

Sam Altman’s bid to return to artificial intelligence company OpenAI faltered on Sunday, as the board that fired him didn’t agree to the proposed terms of his reinstatement. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO— Sam Altman ’s bid to return to OpenAI after being ousted Friday faltered late Sunday, as the board that fired him refused to agree to the proposed terms of his reinstatement and quietly found someone else to take Altman’s spot. Emmett Shear, former chief executive of Twitch, was named interim CEO, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Altman was shocked by the decision, previously feeling confident he would be able to return to the company he co-founded, according to a person familiar with his thinking.

Persons: Sam Altman’s, OpenAI, Patrick T, Sam Altman ’, Emmett Shear, Altman Organizations: Fallon, Agence France

Former OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has told allies that he wants a new board and governance structure if he returns to the company. Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO—Two days after Sam Altman was ousted from OpenAI, he was back at the company’s office, trying to negotiate his return. The former chief executive officer entered with a guest badge on Sunday and posted on X: “first and last time i ever wear one of these.”

Persons: Sam Altman, patrick, ” Organizations: OpenAI, fallon, Agence France

☆ Microsoft’s Chris Young on Bringing AI to Main Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft strategy head Chris Young says sports leagues and pharmaceutical companies are potential AI customers outside the tech industry. Photo: David Ryder/Bloomberg NewsMicrosoft has spent most of this year touting the promise of artificial intelligence and how it can reshape society. The job for Chris Young, head of Microsoft ’s corporate strategy, is making sure that hype turns into purchases of Microsoft’s AI tools. Young leads a hundreds-strong team that works with outside partners like Facebook parent Meta Platforms to develop products made with technologies such as augmented reality and generative AI. Young also oversees Microsoft’s venture investment arm M12, which does early-stage startup investments.

Persons: Chris Young, David Ryder, Young Organizations: Microsoft, Bloomberg, Facebook

☆ Google Antitrust Trial Exposes Deepening Rift With Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Miles Kruppa | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella accused Google of blocking AI competitors. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesSatya Nadella wanted to make nice with longtime rival Google when he became chief executive of Microsoft almost a decade ago. Those days now feel like a distant memory. Google’s antitrust trial in Washington, D.C., has provided a stage for Microsoft to air long-simmering grievances about the search giant’s market dominance. It also has opened a window into the events that led to a straining of relations between the two companies, a dynamic that has grown increasingly tense during the boom in artificial intelligence.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Drew Angerer Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Washington , D.C Locations: Washington ,

☆ Tech Giants Spend Billions on AI Startups—And Get Just as Much Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Berber Jin | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Amazon is investing $4 billion into Anthropic which committed to spending the same amount on AWS, the tech giant’s cloud platform, over the next five years. Photo: NOAH BERGER/REUTERSAmazon , Google and Microsoft have spent the past year investing billions of dollars in artificial-intelligence startups—while also charging those fledgling companies a similar amount to use their cloud platforms. The deals are making the big tech firms both the largest backers and most direct beneficiaries of these startups, reflecting how some of the AI boom’s biggest rewards keep going to the most powerful players. The value of the tech giants’ stakes could shoot up if the startups take off. And if not, they still will have turned chunks of cash into revenue.

Persons: NOAH BERGER Organizations: Amazon, REUTERS, Google, Microsoft

☆ The AI Deals Enriching Silicon Valley’s Tech Giants
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Berber Jin | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: NOAH BERGER Organizations: Amazon, REUTERS, Google, Microsoft

☆ Tech Giants Spend Billions on AI Startups—and Get Just as Much Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Berber Jin | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and billionaire Elon Musk discussed a wide range of topics, from China to the implications of rogue robots, during an event at the UK’s first major summit on artificial intelligence safety. Photo: Tolga Akmen/Press PoolAmazon , Google and Microsoft have spent the past year investing billions of dollars in artificial-intelligence startups—while also charging those fledgling companies a similar amount to use their cloud platforms. The deals are making the big tech firms the largest backers and most direct beneficiaries of these startups, reflecting how some of the AI boom’s biggest rewards keep going to the most powerful players. The value of the tech giants’ stakes could shoot up if the startups take off. And if not, they still will have turned chunks of cash into revenue.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Elon Musk, Tolga Organizations: Google, Microsoft Locations: China

☆ Tech Titans Rebound From Tough Times as AI Fuels Optimism
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Preetika Rana | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Microsoft Earnings Growth Accelerates on Stronger-Than-Expected Cloud Demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft’s gaming unit is poised to become around 10% of the company’s overall business with the acquisition of Activision. Photo: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg NewsMicrosoft ’s sales growth accelerated last quarter as demand for its cloud computing services heated up amid growing enthusiasm about artificial intelligence. The company reported Tuesday that its revenue grew 13% to $56.5 billion for the quarter through September. That was above analysts’ expectations and a step up from growth of 11% during the year-earlier period.

Persons: Alex Kraus Organizations: Activision, Bloomberg, Microsoft

☆ Microsoft’s Activision Buy Extends Nadella’s Decade of Deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Tom Dotan | Sarah E. Needleman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/tech/microsofts-activision-deal-gets-green-light-from-u-k-regulator-95fd688a

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: activision

☆ Microsoft Closes $75 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Tom Dotan | Kim Mackrael | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: activision

☆ Big Tech Struggles to Turn AI Hype Into Profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tom Dotan | Deepa Seetharaman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ AI’s Costly Buildup Could Make Early Products a Hard Sell
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Tom Dotan | Deepa Seetharaman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ais-costly-buildup-could-make-early-products-a-hard-sell-bdd29b9f

Persons: Dow Jones

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ The Executive Trying to Make Microsoft Smarter About AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones, scott, b8954ff1

☆ Meta Is Developing a New, More Powerful AI System as Technology Race Escalates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Deepa Seetharaman | Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Salesforce Earnings Show Rising Profit Margins as It Cuts Costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

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