The rivalry between AI giants Anthropic and OpenAI spilled into public view on Friday when Sasha de Marigny, Anthropic’s head of communications and brand, took a pointed jab at OpenAI on X (formerly Twitter). The social media exchange came at the end of a tumultuous week for OpenAI, which saw major leadership changes and governance restructuring.
On Thursday, OpenAI announced a dramatic overhaul of its corporate structure, transitioning to a for-profit benefit corporation that would no longer be controlled by its nonprofit arm. This marked a significant departure from OpenAI’s origins as a nonprofit organization. As part of these changes, CEO Sam Altman will receive equity in the company for the first time since its founding.
The governance announcement was quickly followed by high-profile departures from OpenAI’s leadership team. Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who had briefly served as interim CEO during Altman’s surprise ousting in late 2023, announced her resignation. Key researchers Bob McGrew and Barret Zoph also revealed they were leaving the company. While it remains unclear whether these departures were directly related to the governance changes, tensions over OpenAI’s approach to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its commitment to AI safety have repeatedly surfaced publicly.
OpenAI cofounder Wojciech Zaremba attempted to address the departures in an unusual X post, comparing the loss of executives to child mortality in the Middle Ages. “Their departures made me think about the hardships parents faced in the Middle Ages when 6 out of 8 children would die prematurely,” he wrote, adding that “despite the profound loss, the parents had to accept it and find deep joy and satisfaction in the 2 who survived.”
Zaremba shared personal anecdotes about each departing executive, including a “fierce conflict about compute” with Zoph that led to OpenAI’s latest AI model, o1. He also mentioned McGrew reprimanding him for “doing a jacuzzi with a coworker” without elaboration.
This prompted de Marigny’s swift response: “Happy to report that Anthropic’s co-founders all still merrily work at the company. None have been lost to Middle Age plagues or jacuzzis.” The comment highlighted Anthropic’s relative stability compared to OpenAI’s ongoing leadership turbulence.
Notably, Anthropic has become a destination for former OpenAI employees, including cofounder John Schulman, who recently joined Anthropic’s team focused on developing AI technology safely. Neither company immediately responded to requests for comment about the social media exchange.
Key Quotes
Their departures made me think about the hardships parents faced in the Middle Ages when 6 out of 8 children would die prematurely. Despite the profound loss, the parents had to accept it and find deep joy and satisfaction in the 2 who survived.
OpenAI cofounder Wojciech Zaremba made this controversial comparison on X, attempting to contextualize the departures of CTO Mira Murati and key researchers Bob McGrew and Barret Zoph. The unusual analogy drew criticism and prompted Anthropic’s mocking response.
Happy to report that Anthropic’s co-founders all still merrily work at the company. None have been lost to Middle Age plagues or jacuzzis.
Sasha de Marigny, Anthropic’s head of communications and brand, posted this pointed jab at OpenAI on X. The comment highlighted Anthropic’s leadership stability in contrast to OpenAI’s ongoing executive departures and became the centerpiece of the public rivalry.
Our Take
This exchange represents more than typical tech industry banter—it’s a window into the existential tensions facing AI companies as they balance rapid commercialization with safety concerns. OpenAI’s pivot to a for-profit structure and the subsequent leadership exodus suggest the company may be prioritizing growth over its founding mission, creating opportunities for competitors like Anthropic to position themselves as the responsible alternative. The fact that Anthropic has successfully recruited multiple OpenAI veterans, including cofounder John Schulman, indicates these concerns resonate within the AI research community. As AI capabilities approach potentially transformative levels, the question of which companies can maintain both technical excellence and ethical guardrails becomes increasingly critical. This rivalry will likely intensify as both companies race toward AGI, with corporate culture and values becoming key differentiators in attracting top talent and customer trust.
Why This Matters
This public spat between two leading AI companies reveals deeper tensions within the artificial intelligence industry about corporate governance, safety priorities, and the path to AGI. OpenAI’s transformation from a nonprofit focused on safe AI development to a for-profit entity raises critical questions about whether commercial pressures might compromise safety commitments—concerns that have driven multiple high-profile departures.
The exodus of key technical leaders like Murati, McGrew, and Zoph represents a significant brain drain for OpenAI at a crucial moment in AI development. These departures, combined with previous exits to competitors like Anthropic, suggest internal disagreements about the company’s direction may be intensifying.
Anthropric’s pointed response highlights its positioning as a safety-focused alternative to OpenAI, potentially appealing to researchers and customers concerned about responsible AI development. As AI capabilities advance rapidly, the stability and values of leading AI labs will increasingly influence how this transformative technology shapes society. The rivalry between these companies isn’t just corporate drama—it reflects fundamental debates about how to build powerful AI systems responsibly.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-mocks-openai-tweet-rivalry-ai-sam-altman-2024-9