OpenAI Debated Merger With Anthropic After Altman Firing, Docs Show

What happened

OpenAI considered merging with rival Anthropic immediately after firing CEO Sam Altman in November 2023, according to court documents. The talks included a proposal for Anthropic to take over OpenAI’s leadership, but the discussions did not result in a merger. Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist, revealed these details in a recent deposition.

Why it matters

• The merger talks occurred during a period of major instability at OpenAI, following the sudden removal of its CEO.
• The discussions highlight the potential for significant shifts in leadership and strategy at one of the world’s leading AI companies.
• The episode underscores the competitive and sometimes collaborative dynamics between top AI firms.

Key facts

1. 1. The merger talks between OpenAI and Anthropic took place in November 2023, right after Sam Altman was fired as OpenAI’s CEO.
2. 2. The proposal involved Anthropic taking over OpenAI’s leadership, according to Ilya Sutskever’s deposition.
3. 3. Sutskever stated he was not happy about the proposed merger, while some board members were more supportive.