The tech industry was stunned by Sam Altman's ousting from OpenAI in November 2023, a move that has since faded into the background as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reflects on the situation.

The board of OpenAI initially cited Altman's lack of candor and a loss of confidence in his leadership as reasons for his removal.

However, both Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman returned to the company shortly after their brief departure, a resolution that Nadella praised.

Nadella noted that any outcome that ends positively is beneficial, particularly highlighting the support Altman received from employees and the broader tech community.

Just three days after Altman's firing, Nadella offered him a position at Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team, alongside Brockman.

Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft's steadfast support for both Altman and OpenAI, emphasizing their commitment to partnership despite the surrounding controversy.

In parallel, Microsoft is advancing its own AI initiatives, having recruited prominent figures like Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan to spearhead its Microsoft AI division.

Microsoft is also developing an in-house AI model, MAI-1, which operates independently of OpenAI, while OpenAI has recently launched a new model called o1, designed for enhanced reasoning.

Amid these developments, OpenAI is reportedly seeking to raise $6.5 billion from investors at a valuation of $150 billion, with Microsoft potentially participating in this funding round.