Microsoft is experiencing a significant surge in its stock price after the hiring of Sam Altman, co-founder and former CEO of OpenAI, as well as other key employees from the start-up. The company’s CEO, Satya Nadella, announced the recruitment on social media and expressed his excitement for the new project that will be led by Altman and Greg Brockman.

Altman reacted to the news by saying that he was excited to join Microsoft and build something new with his colleagues. Brockman also announced that several other key OpenAI employees would be joining the team.

OpenAI’s board of directors had previously fired Altman following a deliberative review process, citing issues with his communication style. However, this decision has been met with criticism from some in the industry who believe it was too harsh.

Emmett Shear, former Twitch boss who has now taken over as interim CEO at OpenAI, commented on his decision to take on the role saying it was an opportunity of a lifetime. He also plans to launch an independent investigation within 30 days to shed light on Altman’s firing and the upheaval within the start-up.

These announcements come after a tumultuous weekend for OpenAI and its leaders, as well as Microsoft which has invested heavily in AI technologies in recent years. This shift in leadership could have a significant impact on both companies and the future of AI research.