In an unusual turn of events, artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has formally turned down a highly publicised and unconventional job application for the position of its Chief Executive Officer. The applicant, a tech professional named Ömer Öztok, captured widespread online attention with his audacious pitch, which the company ultimately found to be "apocalyptic" and legally problematic.
The Unconventional Proposal That Went Viral
According to screenshots of the application that circulated widely on social media, Öztok's approach was far from traditional. Instead of a standard cover letter, he presented a series of bold and bizarre ideas intended to demonstrate his vision for the company behind ChatGPT. A key element of his proposal, which reportedly caused significant concern within OpenAI's executive team, was his stated first action: to replace the entire C-Suite, excluding himself, with ChatGPT AI agents.
His application did not stop there. He also humorously suggested poaching the entire AI research team from rival tech giant Meta by offering them lifetime subscriptions to ChatGPT Plus. Other eyebrow-raising ideas included acquiring Google merely for its brand name and proposing to train the future GPT-6 model exclusively on the content of his own personal tweets.
OpenAI's Official Rejection and Reasoning
The company's alleged email response, which has been shared across platforms, politely acknowledged Öztok's unmatched enthusiasm but firmly declined his application. OpenAI stated that while it admired his boldness, the proposals were flagged as legally "disruptive" and the plan for an AI-powered executive suite was viewed as apocalyptic.
The rejection email clarified that OpenAI had chosen to proceed with a more traditional candidate—one who, notably, did not request 50% ownership of the company, an additional demand allegedly made by Öztok. It is important to note that the authenticity of this email exchange has not been independently verified by all news outlets, with some noting that similar AI-generated fake posts exist online.
Netizens React with Humour and Speculation
The viral exchange sparked a wave of humorous reactions from social media users. Many lauded Öztok for his confidence, with comments ranging from "Shooters shot I guess" to comparisons with Icarus, suggesting he "flew too close to the sun." Others joked about negotiation tactics, with one user quipping, "You should have asked for 49%."
Some users speculated on the nature of the rejection itself, with one netizen noting, "The rejection was written with AI too." The situation also prompted discussions about the future of work, with a user remarking, "I guess it's only apocalyptic when it's executive jobs evaporating out from under them, huh?" The incident highlights the growing public fascination with AI's potential and the sometimes-blurred lines between ambitious innovation and disruptive fantasy in the tech world.
