Competitors of OpenAI might be overlooking a significant opportunity this year – the chance to attract top talent who are considering leaving following Sam Altman’s departure. Companies like Anthropic, Mozilla, or Patronus AI could be seen as more appealing to individuals seeking stability amidst the turmoil at OpenAI and Microsoft, where Altman is now positioned. Consequently, a portion of highly sought-after AI experts, particularly OpenAI employees, might opt to join other organizations or follow Altman.
Tammy Madsen, a management professor at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, emphasized that the talent pool is the most valuable asset for any business. The disparity between the available AI expertise and the actual requirements in the field of applied AI is quite significant.
In a recent statement, Amazon CEO Marc Benioff pledged that Salesforce would match any departing OpenAI scientist’s offer to join their Amazon Einstein Trusted AI research team under Silvio Savarese. The message urged interested individuals to reach out via [email protected] with their resumes. The thriving AI platform, Einstein, has successfully completed 1 trillion predictive and conceptual transactions this week, inviting others to join the Trusted AI Enterprises Revolution.
Aidan Gomez, the CEO of Cohere, shared a link to his company’s job portal, expressing a need for “System Learning People of Technical Staff.”
Despite the allure of lucrative compensation packages, assessing and recruiting OpenAI personnel may pose a challenge for any company. Altman has reportedly assembled a top-tier team in the industry, as indicated by various online sources and social media posts.
The demand for AI skills is at a critical level.
Businesses are expected to continue pursuing these talents as long as AI careers remain in high demand.
Referring to McKinsey’s tech trends data, Madsen highlighted a 15% increase in job postings in tech-focused fields from 2021 to 2022, contrasting with an overall 13% decline. Sectors like applied AI and next-generation software development collectively posted nearly 1 million job opportunities during that period.
Madsen stressed that this specific skill set is in high demand, presenting a prime opportunity for OpenAI’s major competitors to strengthen their AI capabilities.
In correspondence with TechCrunch, Frame AI CEO George Davis anticipated a direct impact in terms of high-quality talent entering the market, with ongoing discussions and interviews already underway.
Davis noted that the recent events have underscored the industry’s focus on ensuring the safety of AI technology.
Pros and Cons of Joining Microsoft
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella indicated that some OpenAI team members might reunite with Altman at the company, where they would lead a newly established AI research division.
However, individuals considering this transition must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of joining a large publicly traded corporation like Microsoft, which, despite its robust funding, may come with more constraints and regulatory oversight.
Madsen highlighted the loss of Altman and Brockman as significant leadership departures, leaving employees uncertain about the board’s decision-making and the company’s future direction. The interim CEO’s focus on security and success, coupled with the prospect of significant changes, adds to the uncertainty faced by employees contemplating their next steps.
The impact of these transitions on the pace of development remains uncertain as OpenAI personnel navigate their current situations and future prospects. Nevertheless, amidst the disruption, there is potential for the emergence of innovative IoT companies, as noted by TechCrunch writer Tim De Chant.
