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Executives at OpenAI have voiced worries about the company's stability following the departure of several key figures, with notable concern arising after the exit of co-founder Ilya Sutskever. This concern was reignited when CTO Mira Murati announced her departure earlier this week.

A recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that OpenAI executives became alarmed after Sutskever's resignation in May, closely followed by the exit of Jan Leike. In response, the company made substantial efforts to bring Sutskever back, fearing a potential cascade of further departures. Murati and then-President Greg Brockman even visited Sutskever at his home, bringing heartfelt letters and cards from employees in an effort to persuade him to return. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also paid a visit to express the company's concerns.

Despite these efforts, Sutskever was later informed by Brockman that the offer for his return had been rescinded. Subsequently, Sutskever went on to establish Safe Superintelligence, a new venture focused on advancing AI technology without the pressure of constant product releases, successfully raising $1 billion in funding.

The wave of high-profile departures comes at a crucial time for OpenAI, which is reportedly transitioning from a non-profit model to a for-profit benefit corporation. This potential shift has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders. CFO Sarah Friar attempted to reassure employees by underscoring heightened investor interest in the company despite Murati’s departure. However, concerns were amplified by comments from OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk, who has openly criticized the move towards a for-profit structure and its possible ramifications.

Adding to the turbulence, recent reports indicated that Apple Inc. has backed out of negotiations to invest in OpenAI's latest funding round, which seeks to raise between $6.5 billion and $7 billion. This exit could signal potential challenges ahead for the company as it aims to maintain investor confidence amidst ongoing organizational changes.