Well, we learned a bit about why the OpenAI Board moved on Sam Altman. Per reporting in the Washington Post, Senior employees at OpenAI raised concerns about CEO Sam Altman’s alleged psychologically abusive behavior, leading to the board’s decision to fire him. The complaints included creating chaos, pitting employees against each other, and lying to the board. Altman was reinstated after employees threatened mass resignations, but the company now faces challenges in rebuilding the board and maintaining unity. An internal investigation is planned, and Altman’s departure could have jeopardized the company’s investments.
A widening AI skills gap leads IT leaders to prioritize staff training to address AI-related skills deficiencies. Two-thirds of IT decision-makers reported dealing with skills gaps in their teams, prompting a shift in attitudes towards training. AI and machine learning were identified as top focus areas, but 43% rated their teams’ skills as ‘low.’ Hiring qualified staff in AI and ML systems was reported as a challenge, and organizations are urged to build AI-related skills to avoid falling behind proactively.
Why do we care?
I paired two because it’s ultimately about staffing. Sure, we care to understand what happened to Altman for OpenAI’s stability.
In our push for AI, I’m advocating speed with care. I do not believe in moving as fast as possible and instead considering adverse outcomes and offsetting them as you consider action. The adage of measure twice, cut once is classic advice for a reason.