OpenAI's Sora AI tool allows users to create AI-generated videos from text inputs.
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OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar is looking to reassure her investors that the highly valued AI startup remains in a strong position and is preparing to close a major funding round soon, despite losing top talent this week.
In an email to OpenAI investors seen by CNBC, Friar addressed the departure of CTO Mira Moratti, who announced her departure on Wednesday. Later that day, Sam Altman said two senior research executives, Bob McGraw and Barrett Zoff, would also leave.
“I wanted to reach out personally following the news of Mira’s departure from OpenAI,” the monk wrote in the message seen by CNBC. “Although leadership changes are never easy, I want to make sure you have the full context.”
“We're incredibly proud of everything you've helped build,” Fryar added, saying the San Francisco-based company still has a “talented leadership bench” to compete with.
OpenAI, which supports it Microsoft And recently participated with apple on artificial intelligence for the iPhone, in the midst of closing a $6.5 billion financing round, which should value the company at about $150 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. Thrive Capital is leading the round and plans to invest $1 billion, according to sources.
The funding round is oversubscribed and will close by next week, Monk said in the email. She said the team plans to host a series of calls with investors to introduce the group to key leaders from the product and research teams.
“Collectively, we remain focused on bringing AI to everyone and building sustainable revenue models that fuel our operations and deliver value for our investors and employees,” Friar wrote. The company is “excited to have you with us as we enter our next chapter,” she wrote.
OpenAI declined to comment on the email.
Moratti's departure comes after six and a half years with the company. She served briefly as interim CEO last year after the board abruptly fired Altman. When Altman was quickly reinstated, Moratti returned to the role of CTO.
Sarah Friar has been appointed CFO of OpenAI
Anjali Sundaram | CNBC
The company was already dealing with the loss of key executives. Co-founder John Schulman and chief safety officer Jan Lyke left to join rival Anthropic. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever left to start another AI company, while another founder, Greg Brockman, was on vacation.
Fryar said Mark Chen will take over as senior vice president of research, and leaders such as Kevin Weil, who joins from… deadand Srinivas Narayanan are “the right people to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation.”
Monk was previously the CEO of the company NextdoorAnd before that, the financial director at roadblockformerly a square.
Also on Thursday, at an all-hands meeting, Altman denied plans to take a “huge equity stake” in the company, calling reports of such a development “untrue,” according to a person who was at the meeting. presence.
Both Altman and Fryar said at the meeting, which was conducted via video conference, that investors had raised concerns about Altman not owning shares in the company he co-founded nearly nine years ago, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because the meeting was only for employees.
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