Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, an AI company backed by FTX, has reportedly rejected a merger offer from OpenAI’s board of directors.
This latest development follows the recent firing of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on November 17.
Anthropic’s Amodei turns down top job at OpenAI
According to sources close to the matter, the merger proposal included a major incentive for Amodei: the opportunity to take over as OpenAI’s new CEO, succeeding Altman. However, Amodei decided to remain at Anthropic, a decision influenced by his current commitments and his position at the artificial intelligence firm.
Details surrounding merger discussions remain unclear, with reports suggesting the proposal may not have progressed toward serious negotiations.
The latest development comes amid a backdrop of financial intrigue involving FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by convinced fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, who acquired a substantial stake in Anthropic during the height of the now-defunct exchange’s reign.
The stake, believed to be worth around $500 million, was part of an internal document that circulated before FTX’s bankruptcy filing last November. The fate of this investment remains uncertain, as FTX’s bankruptcy trustee has not yet sold the stake.
The investment in Anthropic has come under scrutiny, particularly from the US Department of Justice, which alleges that the funds used for the investment originated from FTX client accounts. This claim adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing FTX saga.
On the other hand, Anthropic’s recent fundraising efforts have sparked optimism among FTX’s creditors, who anticipate a possible increase in payments if the stake in Anthropic is liquidated.
Last week, OpenAI’s board of directors made the decision to fire Sam Altman, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership abilities. Following this, Microsoft quickly announced Altman’s new role leading an advanced AI research team.
The announcement has reportedly sparked internal unrest at OpenAI, with threats of resignation from employees and pressure from major investors to reinstate Altman as CEO.
