Microsoft's AI Research VP Sebastien Bubeck Joins OpenAI to Advance AGI Development

Top AI researcher Sebastien Bubeck leaves Microsoft for OpenAI

OpenAI has lost a lot of top leadership lately, but they're gaining a big one: a top AI researcher from Microsoft. In the wake of several high-profile exits, Microsoft's Sebastien Bubeck is joining the OpenAI team, according to a report from The Information. Bubeck told his staff on Monday that he's leaving for OpenAI. The new role at OpenAI is currently unknown, but the researcher is leaving Microsoft to "to further his work toward developing AGI," said a Microsoft spokesperson to the outlet. Within the past year, OpenAI has seen an exodus of top leadership, including co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman (on extended leave) and most recently, CTO Mira Murati, over reported clashes with the direction CEO Sam Altman is taking the company. Reports have surfaced of prioritizing commercialization over responsible AI development as OpenAI grows further away from a research lab and more into a typical for-profit tech company. Bubeck is a VP of Microsoft GenAI and led a machine learning team in the development of Microsoft's Phi models, which are low-cost, lightweight versions of OpenAI's GPT models that are now used for Bing Chat and various Office 365 AI features. What Bubeck will do at OpenAI is uncertain, but the development of smaller, cheaper AI models is a growing area of focus for all AI companies, since they can perform many of the same everyday tasks as the the larger foundation models for a fraction of the cost. Recently, OpenAI has taken to launching mini versions of their models, like GPT-4o mini and o1 mini, a lightweight version of its advanced reasoning model. So perhaps we'll see more cost-effective models as OpenAI looks to turn a profit and recoup its funders $6.6 billion investment.

Microsoft VP of AI research leaves to join OpenAI

Sebastian Bubeck, a former assistant professor at Princeton, had been with Microsoft for over a decade. Microsoft's vice-president of AI Sebastien Bubeck is set to leave the software giant after more than a decade to join the Chat-GPT maker OpenAI. However, it wasn't revealed what role Bubeck would assume at the start-up. "Sebastien has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI [artificial general intelligence]," Microsoft said in a statement yesterday (14 October). "We appreciate the contributions Sebastien has made to Microsoft and look forward to continuing our relationship through his work with OpenAI." Bubeck has worked at Microsoft for more than 10 years and has been a key figure in the company's AI innovation. He led the development of the Phi SLMs (small language models), which aim to be nearly as effective as large language models (LLMs) while using far less compute power. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Phi-3 suite of open models, calling them the "most capable and cost effective small language models available". "Instead of training on just raw web data, why don't you look for data which is of extremely high quality?" Bubeck asked rhetorically, at the company's announcement of the Phi-3. Most of Bubeck's coworkers who worked on Phi LLMs continue to remain at Microsoft to develop the models, the company said in the statement. News of Bubeck joining OpenAI follows a series of upper-level personnel changes and company restructuring at OpenAI over the past few months. Last month, the company's chief technology officer Mira Murati, research VP Barret Zoph and chief research officer Bob McGrew all announced their departures from OpenAI - the day the company announced a structural shift from a not-for-profit to a for-profit company. While earlier this year, OpenAI co-founder John Schulman and former executive Jan Leike announced their departures to join Anthropic, a rival AI company. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever resigned from the company in May to start his own safety-focused AI company and Andrej Karpathy, another co-founder, left the company in February to work on founding an AI education start-up. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Microsoft's VP of GenAI research to join OpenAI

(Reuters) - Microsoft on Monday said that its vice president of GenAI research, Sebastien Bubeck, is leaving the company to join ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. It was unclear what role Bubeck would assume at the Microsoft-backed AI startup. "Sebastian has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI," a spokesperson for Microsoft said, adding that the company looks forward to continuing their relationship through Bubeck's work with OpenAI. Bubeck did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation. Most of Bubeck's coauthors who worked on a research paper on Microsoft's Phi LLMs, which are smaller than traditional large language models (LLMs), remain at Microsoft and plan to continue developing the models, according to the Information, which first reported his departure. The development follows a series of departures from OpenAI, including that of longtime chief technology officer Mira Murati in September. CEO Sam Altman has denied any link between the departures and a planned restructuring of the company. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

Microsoft's VP of GenAI research to join OpenAI

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab on Monday said that its vice president of GenAI research, Sebastien Bubeck, is leaving the company to join ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. It was unclear what role Bubeck would assume at the Microsoft-backed AI startup. "Sebastian has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI," a spokesperson for Microsoft said, adding that the company looks forward to continuing their relationship through Bubeck's work with OpenAI. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Bubeck did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation. Most of Bubeck's coauthors who worked on a research paper on Microsoft's Phi LLMs, which are smaller than traditional large language models (LLMs), remain at Microsoft and plan to continue developing the models, according to the Information, which first reported his departure. The development follows a series of departures from OpenAI, including that of longtime chief technology officer Mira Murati in September. Advertisement · Scroll to continue CEO Sam Altman has denied any link between the departures and a planned restructuring of the company. Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Microsoft's Leading AI Researcher Joins OpenAI To Advance The Development Of AGI

Those who follow the leading members of Microsoft would have heard of Sebastian Bubeck, who was the Vice President of GenAI and the head of the Machine Learning Foundation group and served at the company for a decade. His role in developing the company's small language models has been of great significance, and now reports have emerged that Bubeck is moving to OpenAI to further contribute to the advancement of the technology. Sebastien Bubeck remains on the front for Microsoft's generative AI model development and has played a pivotal role in the company's AI advancement. His contributions in the last two years specifically were of great significance. As reported by The Information, on Monday, Microsoft's spokesperson announced that the VP of GenAI research is now leaving the company and joining OpenAI. The spokesperson in his statement said: Sebastien has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI (artificial general intelligence). We appreciate the contributions Sebastien has made to Microsoft and look forward to continuing our relationship through his work with OpenAI. While there is not much clarity on the role Bubeck would take on at the ChatGPT maker OpenAI's startup, given the aggressive approach to advancing AI technology the company is taking, we assume that Bubeck would have a vital role to play in the company as well. While Bubeck's coauthors who worked on Microsoft's Phi LLM research paper continue to develop the model and remain at Microsoft, Bubeck's departure from the company would still mark a significant shift and would help OpenAI advance in artificial general intelligence. OpenAI, on the other hand, has also recently seen a series of departures, including Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer. This development seems to have followed after all the key employees left OpenAI amidst the company's ongoing direction and the reinstatement of Sam Altman. Microsoft amicably mentioned the departure of its key AI researcher since both companies have a partnership. OpenAI seems to get a big part of its funding from Microsoft, while Microsoft gets to use its AI technology. Given the rapid expansion of OpenAI and its widespread user base now, the company is continuing to evolve and would have plenty to offer to its employees in developing the technology further.

OpenAI Hires Microsoft AI Expert After Facing High-Profile Departures

Significant departures this year include CTO Mira Murati and co-founders John Schulman and Jan Leike. As it navigates a period of significant change, OpenAI is shaking up its senior management, saying goodbye to some of the executives who helped make the business what it is today and welcoming a new generation of leaders. Following the departure of CTO Mira Murati, OpenAI is bringing in Sebastien Bubeck, an experienced scientist who is leaving his role as Microsoft's Vice President of Generative AI. Sebastien Bubeck Joins OpenAI From Microsoft For over a decade, Bubeck has been one of Microsoft's leading AI researchers. In recent years, he has turned his attention to language models, contributing to projects such as Phi-3. Bubeck's comments on Phi-3 point to the emerging role of smaller models in the delivery of AI services and his move to OpenAI could signal a shift for the company that has until now mostly focused on the largest models. While some AI industry hiring practices create a sense of cut-throat competition between rivals, Bubeck's move has the feel of a cordial exchange between allies. "Sebastian has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI," a spokesperson for Microsoft said , adding that the firm looks forward to continuing their relationship with OpenAI. OpenAI High-Profile Departures Bubeck's arrival at OpenAI comes amid a wave of high-profile departures from the company, leading to speculation about its internal dynamics and future direction. The most significant exit is Mira Murati, OpenAI's CTO, who played a crucial role in the development of ChatGPT and other key AI models. Other significant departures this year include co-founders John Schulman and Jan Leike, who have taken up new roles at rival Anthropic, and Ilya Sutskever, who left to start a new safety-focused AI venture. Despite CEO Sam Altman's efforts to depict recent changes in a positive light, there has been widespread speculation that recent exists point to internal tension amid a major restructuring and pivot away from the company's non-profit roots. From Startup to AI Powerhouse As OpenAI evolves from a disruptive startup to an entrenched technology giant, some staff turnover is probably inevitable. The qualities that make someone a good leader during the initial phases of growth aren't necessarily the same ones needed to steer a multi-billion dollar business with over a million paying customers. With the exception of Sam Altman and Elon Musk, OpenAI's founders mostly came from a technical background and had little experience leading large corporations. As the company grows, hires like Bubeck who have Big Tech experience and technical know-how will align with the growing requirements of OpenAI's latest chapter.

Microsoft AI Vice President to Join OpenAI

One of Microsoft's vice presidents for artificial intelligence, Sebastien Bubeck, is leaving to join OpenAI. Bubeck, who most recently served as Microsoft's vice president for generative AI research, has left to further his work in developing artificial general intelligence with OpenAI, a Microsoft spokesperson said. OpenAI defines AGI on its website as "highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work." The ChatGPT maker declined to comment on the news. Bubeck, who first joined Microsoft 10 years ago, was leading the company's Phi model project, Microsoft's family of small language models, which Chief Executive Satya Nadella said are 1/100th the size of the free model behind OpenAI's ChatGPT and perform many tasks nearly as well. This category of AI software is trained on less data and is often designed for specific tasks, as tech giants slim down AI software to make it cheaper, faster and more specialized. OpenAI, where Microsoft is both an investor and competitor, was recently valued at $157 billion after its latest funding round, and plans to convert to a for-profit company. Bubeck's move to join OpenAI follows a series of high-profile exits by executives from the startup this year. Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati is one of more than 20 OpenAI researchers and executives who have quit this year, including several co-founders. Chief Executive Sam Altman has denied that employee departures were related to the restructuring plans. News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

Microsoft's Vice President of Generative AI Research to Join OpenAI

OpenAI was launched in December 2015 OpenAI recently raised $6.6 billion from investors The company closed funding at $157 billion valuation Microsoft on Monday said that its vice president of GenAI research, Sebastien Bubeck, is leaving the company to join ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. It was unclear what role Bubeck would assume at the Microsoft-backed AI startup. "Sebastian has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI," a spokesperson for Microsoft said, adding that the company looks forward to continuing their relationship through Bubeck's work with OpenAI. Bubeck did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation. Most of Bubeck's coauthors who worked on a research paper on Microsoft's Phi LLMs, which are smaller than traditional large language models (LLMs), remain at Microsoft and plan to continue developing the models, according to the Information, which first reported his departure. The development follows a series of departures from OpenAI, including that of longtime chief technology officer Mira Murati in September. CEO Sam Altman has denied any link between the departures and a planned restructuring of the company. © Thomson Reuters 2024

Microsoft's Generative AI Vice President Set to Join OpenAI In Strategic Move

Microsoft VP Sebastien Bubeck Leaves for OpenAI: A New Chapter in Generative AI In a significant move within the artificial intelligence landscape, Microsoft announced on Monday that Sebastien Bubeck, its Vice President of Generative AI research, will be leaving the company to join OpenAI, the organization behind the popular ChatGPT. This development has sparked conversations about the potential implications for AI innovation at both companies and what role Bubeck will assume at OpenAI. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, "Sebastian has decided to leave Microsoft to further his work toward developing AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)." This statement highlights Bubeck's ambition to contribute to the field of AI, aligning well with OpenAI's mission to advance AI capabilities safely and effectively. Microsoft expressed its eagerness to maintain a collaborative relationship with Bubeck as he transitions into this new role. Bubeck's departure is particularly significant in light of recent leadership changes at OpenAI, which has seen several high-profile exits, including Mira Murati, the company's former chief technology officer. Despite the turnover, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly denied any connection between these departures and a planned restructuring within the organization. Bubeck has been a key player in Microsoft's AI initiatives, particularly regarding the development of Phi LLMs (Language Learning Models). These models are designed to be more efficient and smaller compared to traditional large language models, making them potentially more accessible for various applications. While many of Bubeck's co-authors on this research remain at Microsoft and are committed to furthering these projects, his departure represents a considerable loss for the tech giant. The timing of Bubeck's move is noteworthy, especially considering the growing competition in the AI industry. Companies are racing to develop more sophisticated AI technologies, and talent is increasingly viewed as a critical asset in this endeavor. Bubeck's expertise in generative AI is likely to have a profound impact on OpenAI's upcoming projects, particularly as the company explores new frontiers in AI applications. Moreover, while joining OpenAI, Bubeck also seems to give a signal that technology executives are transitioning to new positions thanks to the growing reach of leaders' ambitions. The changing image of the top management in this sector is of utmost importance as it can determine the policies that will be taken and therefore this shift by Bubeck should be treated with respect. As for the opposing position, it is clear that will make good use of all Bubeck's accumulated knowledge of generative AI system development. His work further i.e in OpenAI may prove beneficial in growing scope and resolving some more aspects of their current quest to develop advanced AI systems. Such a proposition sets the stage for the two companies and their resulting developments and one cannot rule out the fact that we will rape again some of the great developments in the field of AI. As the industry watches these developments unfold, the future of artificial intelligence research and development remains a topic of immense interest and anticipation.

Microsoft Artificial Intelligence VP Bubeck to Join OpenAI

Microsoft Corp. said one of its artificial intelligence vice presidents, Sebastien Bubeck, is leaving to join OpenAI, where Microsoft is both the largest investor and a rival. Bubeck, a 10-year Microsoft veteran, had been overseeing the company's work on small language models, a field that tries to meet or exceed the effectiveness of larger AI systems while running more efficiently. Microsoft said that Bubeck plans to work with OpenAI on its goal of reaching artificial general intelligence, or AGI. OpenAI defines AGI as "highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work."

OpenAI snatches up Microsoft generative AI research lead | TechCrunch

Microsoft has lost an AI expert and OpenAI gained one, after the former's VP of generative AI research Sebastian Bubeck left for the latter. The Information first reported the move, and Reuters also confirmed the departure with Microsoft. We know Bubeck as one of the main authors of papers describing Microsoft's Phi models, a series of extra-small language and vision models intended to help push AI applications to edge devices. That kind of expertise is increasingly important as large, centralized models like OpenAI's GPT-4o give way in some markets to on-device models that work quickly, privately, and offline. While Bubeck's new role at OpenAI is still a mystery, it seems likely he'll be working on the efficiency and small-model side of things -- a corner of the AI world where OpenAI is currently less prominent.

Microsoft artificial intelligence VP Bubeck to join OpenAI

Bubeck, a 10-year Microsoft veteran, had been overseeing the company's work on small language models, a field that tries to meet or exceed the effectiveness of larger AI systems while running more efficiently. Microsoft said that Bubeck plans to work with OpenAI on its goal of reaching artificial general intelligence, or AGI. OpenAI defines AGI as "highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work." "We appreciate the contributions Sebastian has made to Microsoft and look forward to continuing our relationship through his work with OpenAI," Microsoft said in a statement. OpenAI didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prominent Microsoft AI Researcher to Join OpenAI

Sebastien Bubeck, one of Microsoft's most prominent artificial intelligence researchers, is leaving to join OpenAI, he told staff on Monday. Bubeck was a public face of much of Microsoft's development of large language models over the past two years, in part by using technology from OpenAI. His team and others at Microsoft get special access to OpenAI's tech because of a financial and product