🔃 OpenAI's Sam Altman plays the Uno Reverso

Hi and welcome to another Security weekly. Where we laugh, we cry and share the latest and greatest in security and tech news.

In this week's edition:
🔃 OpenAI's Sam Altman plays the Uno Reverso
📰 Bits & Bytes
❓ Disable User explains: Boardroom Coup
🔥 meme of the week

Reading time: 02:17

OpenAI's Sam Altman plays the Uno Reverso

There’s one thing my friends know about me: I love some good drama.
Only one rule is absolutely important for it to be REALLY good drama: I don’t want it to have impact on me.

Other than that: anything goes.

I know, technically, this isn’t about cybersecurity. But since every relevant media site has written about it, I couldn’t skip it.

Without further ado: Deepdive into the OpenAI drama

Hold onto your hats, folks, because the story of OpenAI has more twists than a pretzel factory.
Last Friday, the AI giant behind viral hits like ChatGPT waved goodbye to its CEO, Sam Altman, thanks to a board decision.

Sam Altman, the ex-Y Combinator president and a Silicon Valley icon, was shown the door by OpenAI’s board.
Quickly after Greg Brockman, OpenAI's co-founder, and three top researchers followed suit, tendering their resignations.
Imagine a band where the lead singer and a few key members decide to go solo – all at once, unwillingly.

But here's where it gets juicier.

The board’s move, initially seeming as straightforward as a straight line, turned into a maze when backlash erupted. Investors and partners, who were more used to the board's existence than its exercise of power, were taken aback.

Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, was reportedly blindsided and less than thrilled about the news. Rumors started swirling about a potential U-turn by the board, possibly bringing Altman back to the helm.

The fallout didn't stop there.
Senior researchers and executives at OpenAI began to jump ship, suggesting a deepening rift within the company.

The real kicker?
As Altman and Brockman start talking about a new AI-chip-focused venture, the board is left to ponder their next move, which might be an about-face so sharp it could cause whiplash. They thought they were making a strategic decision, but it turns out the tech community and OpenAI's own ranks might have a different script in mind.

So, as we watch this saga unfold, it's clear this isn't just business as usual. It's a story of power plays, unexpected twists, and the potential reshaping of one of the AI world's biggest players.

PS: As with the Lastpass saga, I claim dibs on movie rights.

Bits & Bytes

• Windows 10 to let admins control how optional updates are deployed - Only Microsoft can bring back older technology and pretend it’s something new. This is essentially WSUS with additional steps.

• Google shares plans for blocking third-party cookies in Chrome - And I share my plans for becoming a billionaire. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

• Ransomware gang files SEC complaint about victim - Haha what. That’s like calling the cops to fine someone for illegal parking after you stole their car and drove it into a house.

• How an Indian startup hacked the world - that’s some James Bond stuff right there. Fun article!

• Microsoft Ignite Announcements - MS had it’s infamous Ignite last week. As expected, much about Copilot and other AI.

Boardroom Coup

A sudden and decisive change in leadership executed by the board of directors.

Like a game of musical chairs but when the music stops, the CEO doesn't have a seat anymore.

Meme of the week