Big news from OpenAI, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever is leaving the AI first mover. From Axios:

“Ilya and OpenAI are going to part ways,” CEO Sam Altman said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

• “This is very sad to me; Ilya is easily one of the greatest minds of our generation, a guiding light of our field, and a dear friend,” Altman added. “His brilliance and vision are well known; his warmth and compassion are less well known but no less important.
• Sutskever confirmed his departure on X writing, “After almost a decade, I have made the decision to leave OpenAI.  The company’s trajectory has been nothing short of miraculous, and I’m confident that OpenAI will build AGI that is both safe and beneficial.”
• “I am excited for what comes next — a project that is very personally meaningful to me about which I will share details in due time,” Sutskever added.

Between the lines: Sutskever’s future with the company has been in doubt since, while on the board, he voted to oust Altman from his role as CEO, only to reverse course and sign an open letter demanding his return.

Given the…unpleasantness…back in November 2023, this feels like the thunderclap after the lightning bolt.

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