OpenAI Board Considers Sam Altman’s Return as CEO
Altman’s abrupt dismissal on Friday plunged the most talked-about startup in the tech industry into an enduring crisis.
OpenAI Board Considers Sam Altman’s Return as CEO
The OpenAI board is currently engaged in conversations with Sam Altman regarding his potential return to the role of CEO, as reported by multiple sources familiar with the situation. One source revealed that Altman, who was unexpectedly dismissed by the board on Friday without prior notice, is uncertain about rejoining and is expressing a desire for substantial changes in the company’s governance.
In an update at 5:35 PM PT, a source with close ties to Altman disclosed that there was a preliminary agreement within the board to step down, allowing Altman and Brockman to resume their positions. However, the board’s commitment has since wavered, missing a crucial 5 PM PT deadline, leading to the possible resignation of numerous OpenAI staff members who were prepared to leave with Altman if he chooses to embark on starting a new venture.
The fact that Altman is in talks with the company merely a day after his abrupt departure suggests that OpenAI is facing a precarious situation in his absence. Following Altman’s removal, Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and former board chairman, tendered his resignation, prompting discussions between the two about launching a new enterprise with the support of friends and investors. On the same Friday, several senior researchers also resigned, and sources close to OpenAI anticipate additional departures in the coming days.
Following Altman’s dismissal, Microsoft, OpenAI’s principal investor, issued a statement affirming its ongoing commitment to the partnership with the AI firm. The statement asserted that despite Altman’s departure, Microsoft remains dedicated to its collaboration with OpenAI. However, it was noted that OpenAI’s investors were not provided with advance notice or an opportunity to provide input regarding the board’s decision to remove Altman.
Altman, being the public face of the company and a prominent figure in the field of AI, his abrupt removal introduces an element of uncertainty to the future trajectory of OpenAI. This uncertainty is particularly significant given the competitive landscape, with rival organizations striving to keep pace with the remarkable advancements seen in ChatGPT.
Requests for comments on Altman’s potential return from an OpenAI spokesperson went unanswered. Similarly, a Microsoft spokesperson declined to provide any comment on the matter. The lack of communication and transparency surrounding these developments raises questions about the internal dynamics of OpenAI and its relationship with key stakeholders.
The current board of OpenAI is comprised of chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, former GeoSim Systems CEO Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner, the director of strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Unlike conventional companies, this board does not have the conventional objective of maximizing shareholder value, and none of its members hold equity in OpenAI. Instead, their explicit mission is to oversee the development of “broadly beneficial” artificial general intelligence, or AGI.
Recent developments within OpenAI suggest a significant power shift within the organization. Chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, who is also a co-founder of OpenAI and leads its team of researchers, played a pivotal role in the removal of Sam Altman, according to multiple sources. This suggests an internal power struggle between the research and product facets of the company, indicating potential tensions within the leadership regarding the strategic direction of OpenAI.
