October 15, 2024 – In a significant move within the realm of artificial intelligence, Microsoft announced on October 14 that Sébastien Bubeck, its Vice President of Generative AI Research, is set to depart the company to join OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This development marks a turning point not only for Microsoft but also for the broader AI community.
A spokesperson for Microsoft stated that Bubeck has chosen to leave the company to further advance his work in developing general artificial intelligence (AGI). Microsoft expressed its anticipation of continuing its relationship with Bubeck through his collaboration with OpenAI.
According to Information, most of Bubeck’s co-authors, who previously collaborated on a research paper about Microsoft’s Phi LLMs—smaller models compared to traditional large language models (LLMs)—will remain at Microsoft and plan to continue developing these models. This indicates that Microsoft’s efforts in this area will persist despite Bubeck’s departure.
Bubeck, who has spent 10 years at Microsoft Research and served as an assistant professor at Princeton University for three years, now focuses on understanding how intelligence emerges in large language models. He aims to leverage this understanding to enhance the intelligence of LLMs and move closer to achieving AGI. His personal website reflects this passion and commitment to advancing AI research.
With Bubeck’s expertise and vision, OpenAI is poised to make significant strides in its mission to create more advanced and capable AI systems. Meanwhile, Microsoft will continue to nurture its own AI research initiatives, building on the foundations laid by Bubeck and his team.
