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Dee Templeton, Microsoft's VP for technology and research partnerships and operations, has taken on a new role as a non-voting observer on the board of OpenAI, as reported by Bloomberg.
This move marks the first representation from Microsoft, which is OpenAI's largest investor, on the board.
Additional details:
- Templeton's new position grants access to meetings and confidential information within OpenAI, albeit without voting rights.
- The appointment follows the temporary ouster of OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman by the board, citing a "breakdown of communications."
Altman was re-hired less than a week later, and upon his return, he announced Microsoft's acquisition of a non-voting observer seat on the nonprofit board overseeing OpenAI.
- OpenAI's board restructuring also includes the addition of former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor as chairman, as well as former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Adam D'Angelo, the co-founder and CEO of Quora.
- The board plans to further expand its membership, with potential candidates such as Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and ex-GitHub CEO Nat Friedman being considered. Discussions are ongoing to include representatives from firms collaborating with or involved in the AI sector.
Zooming out, this development reflects a significant step in the strategic collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI, as both organizations continue to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its applications.