The Microsoft-OpenAI Files
- Reference: 0180640420
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/01/22/2152231/the-microsoft-openai-files
- Source link:
> GeekWire takes a look at AI's defining alliance in [2]The Microsoft-OpenAI Files , an epic story drawn from 200+ documents, many made public Friday in Elon Musk's ongoing suit [3]accusing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of abandoning the nonprofit mission (Microsoft is also a defendant). Musk, who was an OpenAI co-founder, is seeking up to $134 billion in damages. "Previously undisclosed emails, messages, slide decks, reports, and deposition transcripts reveal how Microsoft pursued, rebuffed, and backed OpenAI at various moments over the past decade, ultimately shaping the course of the lab that launched the generative AI era," reports GeekWire. "The latest round of documents, filed as exhibits in Musk's lawsuit, [...] show how Nadella and Microsoft's senior leadership team rally in a crisis, maneuver against rivals such as Google and Amazon, and talk about deals in private."
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> Even though Microsoft didn't have a seat on the OpenAI board, text messages between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman following [4]Altman's firing as CEO in Nov. 2023 (news of which [5]sent Microsoft's stock plummeting ), revealed in the latest filings, show just how influential Microsoft was. A day after Altman's firing, Nadella sent Altman a detailed message from Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and top lawyer, explaining that Microsoft had created a new subsidiary called Microsoft RAI (Responsible Artificial Intelligence) Inc. from scratch -- legal work done, papers ready to file as soon as the WA Secretary of State opened Monday morning -- and was ready to capitalize and operationalize it to "support Sam in whatever way is needed," including absorbing the OpenAI team at a calculated cost of roughly $25 billion. (Altman's reply: "kk"). Just days later, as he planned his return as CEO to the [6]now-reeling-from-Microsoft-punches nonprofit, Altman joined Microsoft's Nadella, Smith, and CTO Kevin Scott in a text messaging thread in which the four vetted prospective board members to replace those who had ousted Altman. Later that night, OpenAI announced Altman's return with the newly constituted board.
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> If you like stories with happy Microsoft endings, as part of an agreement clearing the way for OpenAI to restructure as a for-profit business, Microsoft in October [7]received a 27% ownership stake in OpenAI worth approximately $135 billion and retains access to the AI startup's technology until 2032, including models that achieve AGI.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~theodp
[2] https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-microsoft-openai-files-internal-documents-reveal-the-realities-of-ais-defining-alliance/
[3] https://slashdot.org/story/24/03/01/1218218/elon-musk-sues-openai-and-sam-altman
[4] https://news.slashdot.org/story/23/11/17/2137216/sam-altman-fired-as-ceo-of-openai
[5] https://slashdot.org/story/23/11/18/1858203/what-exactly-happened-at-openai
[6] https://slashdot.org/story/23/11/20/1141248/microsoft-hires-ex-openai-leaders-altman-and-brockman-to-lead-new-ai-group
[7] https://slashdot.org/story/25/10/28/149254/openai-finalizes-corporate-restructuring-gives-microsoft-27-stake-and-technology-access-until-2032
Outrageous claims (Score:2)
Musk knows how to act like a supremely confident bully. He's claiming that he, many years ago, imbued OpenAI with his knowledge and expertise of AI that constituted the value of OpenAI from the very beginning and that the subsequent money, effort, and expertise from others were essentially immaterial. That's how he's hoping to convince the court that his $40 million is now worth $134 billion.
Of course, that logic is laughable. There are basically no experts that would agree with the idea that Musk is an
Re: (Score:1)
He deserves every penny he put in plus an apology and structural changes made to OpenAI
Question (Score:3)
> retains access to the AI startup's technology until 2032, including models that achieve AGI
Exactly how do they envision an autocomplete gaining sentience?
Re: (Score:3)
That's the confidence game part of the big AI swindle. See? Microsoft is so sure of it making 10000x returns that they even put a relatively short time limit on when they think AGI will be achieved.
Re: Question (Score:2)
Like Slopman said themself, $100b in revenue (or profit, I forgot) from "AI" is "GAI".
[1]https://biztechweekly.com/open... [biztechweekly.com]
[1] https://biztechweekly.com/openai-and-microsofts-surprising-agi-definition-100-billion-profit-threshold-revealed/
happy Microsoft endings (Score:1)
Sooo many jokes so little time.