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Microsoft shares climbed 2.7% in premarket trading, approaching a new record high, following the announcement that OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman will head a new cutting-edge AI research division for the tech giant. This development is particularly surprising given that Altman was dismissed from OpenAI just last week, with Emmett Shear, the co-founder of Twitch, a video streaming platform, stepping in as the interim CEO overnight, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

Shear's appointment as OpenAI's interim CEO marks the second leadership change in three days, following the board's decision to terminate Altman on Friday and technology officer Mira Murati shortly after. 

"I took this job because I believe that OpenAI is one of the most important companies currently in existence," Shear wrote on social media platform X. He continued, "I want to do everything in my power to protect it and grow it further."

On Sunday afternoon, Altman returned to OpenAI's headquarters, holding a guest pass. The former CEO said, "First and last time I ever wear one of these."

Co-founder and board member Ilya Sutskever – who fired Altman – told employees about Shear joining the company late Sunday. 

Early Monday morning, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella wrote in a post on X, "Excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team."

"The mission continues," Altman wrote on X, commenting on Nadella's message.

Elon Musk commented on Altman's post, "Wild Times." 

Bloomberg noted some OpenAI employees posted their resignations on X after hearing the news. 

OpenAI developer Logan Kilpatrick wrote on the social media, "This has been an utterly devastating last 3 days."

The abrupt shake-up at the maker of viral chatbot ChatGPT echoes a classic Silicon Valley story: the rift between founders and their board. Some have warned parting with Altman could be disastrous: 

And this… 

Shares of Microsoft in premarket trading were up as much as 2.7% on the news. The tech giant has invested over 13 billion in OpenAI and is its cloud provider. It said it remains committed to its partnership with OpenAI. 

Analysts, commenting after Altman's shock exit, were deeply concerned: 

Here's more of what Wall Street analysts are saying (list courtesy of Bloomberg):

What a dizzying weekend!