OpenAI has come under scrutiny following the release of documents by Vox that reveal the company’s aggressive tactics towards former employees. The documents show that OpenAI required ex-employees to sign non-disparagement agreements or risk losing their vested equity. Despite senior leadership, including Sam Altman, claiming they were unaware of these provisions, their signatures on relevant documents raise questions about their knowledge. The documents also suggest that OpenAI’s equity is highly illiquid, allowing the company to exclude former employees from tender offers for any reason. Additionally, the documents contradict leadership's comments about being unaware of provisions about equity cancellation. In response to the backlash, OpenAI has announced that it will not enforce the controversial agreements, as confirmed by an internal memo viewed by CNBC.
OpenAI scraps controversial nondisparagement agreement with employees https://t.co/zyWoRcifnN
OpenAI sends internal memo releasing former employees from controversial exit agreements https://t.co/C5m9mIfOib
Today, OpenAI walked back controversial NDAs that essentially would make former employees choose between signing contracts that never expired or keeping their vested equity. The internal memo, which was viewed by CNBC, was sent to current & former workers.https://t.co/s58SdJ6i0k
OpenAI NDAs: Leaked documents reveal aggressive tactics toward former employees - Vox https://t.co/kQbQiYIN0c
I've gotten confirmation from multiple former OpenAI employees that the company emailed this afternoon to state that the company "will not enforce" nondisparagement and nonsolicitation agreements in connection with their employment with OpenAI.
OpenAI reportedly compels its former staff members to sign NDAs or risk losing their vested equity. https://t.co/j6zZ9YPWnr #OpenAI #ChatGPT
very good report about OpenAI forcing departing employees into restrictive NDAs (and the seemingly false claims made by execs in response to these reports) https://t.co/zrdchjnlpi
Despite recent apologies and reassurances, documents leaked to Vox show OpenAI pressured departing employees over equity https://t.co/RzCxGUz1HC
Vox just released an article on how OpenAI handles employee resignations. They have also published the documents on their news article. Reason why you don't see anyone talking about Open AI once they leave the company. More details in🧵 https://t.co/UyNJJgAXOS
OpenAI NDAs: Leaked documents reveal aggressive tactics toward former employees https://t.co/V3kGQeIyRH
Wild. Based on this reporting it sounds like not only are there questionable practices on forcing non-disparagement agreements but OpenAI’s “equity” is extremely illiquid too. They can exclude you from tender offers for any reason based on the reported incorporation documents. https://t.co/jW8PkWaZ3v
It was recently revealed that OpenAI requires former employees to sign a non-disparagement agreement after they leave the company or lose their VESTED shares. Sam Altman expressed surprise that the company does this and claims the company has never clawed back shares due to this https://t.co/2IvzU5Cps2
Leaked OpenAI docs show aggressive tactics toward ex-employees and contradict leadership's comments about being unaware of provisions about equity cancellation (@kelseytuoc / Vox) https://t.co/ISRKQk778c 📫 Subscribe: https://t.co/OyWeKSRpIM https://t.co/Kx0odLsteD
Interesting details on how OpenAI was taking back equity from employees Between this and the Scarlett Johansson thing, maybe the old board members had a point about Sam “not being candid” https://t.co/byf5de4pZO
The OpenAI documents coming out make me very angry. While they pushed silly "we're nothing without our people" heart memes, they actively worked to destroy the futures of any employee who dared leave. Shameful.
Vox with the OpenAI departure documents dump 👀 https://t.co/FkL8dUamhy
Scoop: OpenAI's senior leadership says they were unaware ex-employees who didn't sign departure docs were threatened with losing their vested equity. But their signatures on relevant documents (which Vox is now releasing) raise questions about whether they could have missed it.…