OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced the firing of its CEO, Sam Altman, sending shock waves through the tech industry. The board cited Altman's lack of consistent communication with the board as the reason for his departure. OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, will serve as the interim CEO while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Altman, a serial entrepreneur and investor, was the public face of OpenAI and the popular generative AI technology. The sudden management shuffle surprised many employees, who learned of the news through an internal announcement and the company's blog.

OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft has been mutually beneficial, with Microsoft's investment propelling OpenAI to the forefront of AI innovation. However, Microsoft is strategically reducing its dependence on OpenAI to capture more value in the evolving market for language models and generative AI technologies.

While OpenAI has associated the term "GPT" with its brand, Microsoft has been working to associate "Copilot" with its own brand. Microsoft recently made several Copilot announcements at its Ignite conference, including updates and new offerings.

The firing of Altman raises questions about the future direction of OpenAI and the generative AI market. Will the new mantra be "There is a GPT for that" or "There is a Copilot for that"?