Worldcoin’s WLD has gained around 7% amid the news that Microsoft has hired Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, co-founders of OpenAI, to spearhead a new advanced AI research team. At the time of writing, WLD is trading at $2.41, up by more than 6.5% over the past day, according to data from CoinGecko.
Altman’s Departure and WLD’s Decline
The rally comes after the announcement of Sam Altman’s departure from OpenAI triggered a sharp decline in the value of WLD last week. At the time, WLD dropped to as low as $1.86, marking a 42% decrease from its all-time high of $3.30.
“Altman, who co-founded Worldcoin along with Max Novendstern and Alex Blania in 2019, was removed from his position as CEO of OpenAI due to his alleged lack of candid communication that affected the responsibilities of the board.”
Altman’s unexpected dismissal from OpenAI’s board led to several other members, including Brockman, leaving the firm in protest.
Microsoft’s Strategic Move
Exploiting this opportunity, Microsoft has hired both Altman and Brockman to head up its new advanced AI research team. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed the appointments on Monday, according to a report by TechCrunch.
“Nadella also hinted that additional hires from OpenAI might be joining Altman and Brockman, signaling Microsoft’s commitment to assembling a talented team. The decision to bring Altman and Brockman on board comes as Microsoft is already a major investor in OpenAI with a substantial investment of over $10 billion in the AI company.”
Nadella emphasized that Microsoft is fully supportive of OpenAI’s product roadmap and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the new leadership team at OpenAI, led by Emmett Shear.
“We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in our product roadmap, our ability to continue to innovate with everything we announced at Microsoft Ignite, and in continuing to support our customers and partners,” Nadella said. “We look forward to getting to know Emmett Shear and OAI’s new leadership team and working with them.”
Controversies Surrounding Worldcoin
Worldcoin has faced criticism and controversy since its inception. Last year, MIT Technology Review published an article claiming that the project acquired its first 500,000 users through “deception, exploited workers, and cash handouts.” Additionally, governments, including the U.K., Germany, France, and notably Kenya, have raised concerns about privacy, security, and financial implications, with Kenya even suspending Worldcoin’s enrollment.
Back in August, reports surfaced in Nigeria that Nairobi police, in collaboration with officials from various agencies, had conducted a raid on a Worldcoin warehouse in the capital city of Kenya. Similarly, the Argentine Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP) has launched a probe into Worldcoin to determine the legality of its data collection practices within the South American nation.
