OpenAI CEO Apologizes for Equity Cancellation Clause

As a crypto investor with experience in the tech industry, I closely follow developments at OpenAI due to its significant impact on AI research and technology. The recent controversy surrounding the equity cancellation clause in OpenAI’s exit agreements has raised concerns among former employees and observers.


As a researcher looking into the latest developments at OpenAI, I’ve come across some buzz surrounding CEO Sam Altman’s recent address to employees’ concerns regarding a contentious clause in the company’s departure contracts. This clause potentially allows OpenAI to cancel vested equity upon termination under certain circumstances.

OpenAI, according to Altman, has never invoked this provision, and he assured that the vesting of equity remains unaffected by any separation or nondisparagement accords.

OpenAI Clarification on Vested Equity

As a crypto investor, I would express it this way: I strongly disagreed with the inclusion of that specific clause in the past exit documents. It was an error and should have been omitted.

As a researcher involved in the operations of OpenAI, I acknowledge the error that occurred under my watch and take complete accountability for it. Regrettably, this is an infrequent occasion where I found myself feeling mortified. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the situation unfolding, and I now recognize that I fell short in my responsibilities.

As a crypto investor, I’d rephrase it like this: I assured the former employees that if they had any concerns regarding this clause, they could reach out to me personally for resolution.

The equity cancellation clause raised concerns about its intended use and potential misapplication among many. Admitting the error, Altman disclosed that the company had modified its customary departure documents a month prior to address these issues.

Employee Resignations and Safety Concerns

After several departures, including that of Jan Leike from OpenAI, where he led alignment efforts, Altman has provided further explanation. Leike, who announced his resignation on May 17th, cited a greater emphasis on product development over AI safety as a significant factor in his decision.

in regards to recent stuff about how openai handles equity:

In plain terms, we’ve never reversed or taken back anyone’s earned equity, and we won’t do so unless they sign a separation agreement or refuse to agree to a non-disparagement pact. The concept of “vested equity” remains unchanged.

there was…

— Sam Altman (@sama) May 18, 2024

Ilya Sutskever, a prominent figure in AI research and one of OpenAI’s founding members, had previously stepped down from the company before your named individual submitted their resignation.

OpenAI’s internal strategies and priorities have drawn significant scrutiny due to recent departures within the organization. Critics argue that OpenAI has not given sufficient attention to advanced AI system-related concerns. Previously, OpenAI disbanded its “Superalignment” team, merging their functions into other ongoing research initiatives.

OpenAI’s Commitment to AI Safety

As a crypto investor and interested observer of the tech industry, I’ve noticed that OpenAI, despite undergoing restructuring, remains dedicated to ensuring AI safety. The CEO, Sam Altman, and President, Greg Brockman, have emphasized the significance of ongoing research in this area. In a recent statement, Brockman expressed gratitude towards departing employees and assured the public that OpenAI will continue to prioritize and tackle safety concerns with great rigor.

Brockman brought attention to OpenAI’s initiatives in addressing the potential hazards and benefits of artificial general intelligence, promoting global oversight, and spearheading investigations into AI safety.

I’m glad you appreciate Jan’s significant contributions to OpenAI, and I assure you that his impact will be felt beyond his tenure here. Given the curiosity sparked by his departure, I thought it would be helpful to shed some light on our broader strategic direction.

First, we have…

— Greg Brockman (@gdb) May 18, 2024

He admitted that creating and releasing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) safely entails intricate and uncharted hurdles, necessitating ongoing enhancements in safety protocols and supervision.

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2024-05-19 04:24