OpenAI reinstates Sam Altman as CEO
OpenAI announced that Sam Altman is set to reclaim the CEO position after a recent boardroom upheaval caused turmoil for the company. In a tweet, OpenAI revealed that a tentative agreement has been reached for Altman's return. A new board has been formed, which includes Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo, with D’Angelo being a continuation from the previous board.
"I love Openai, and everything i’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together. When i decided to join msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for the team and me. With the new board and w Satya’s support, I’m looking forward to returning to Openai and building on our strong partnership with msft", Sam Altman responded on X.
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella also expressed optimism about the changes to the OpenAI board, considering it a crucial first step towards achieving stable and effective governance. "We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is the first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring OAI continues to thrive and build on its mission", said Satya Nadella.
The news of Sam Altman's return to OpenAI came as a surprise, especially after his unexpected departure. Initially, the nonprofit board at OpenAI seemed determined to remove Altman and even went through two CEOs in three days to avoid bringing him back. However, OpenAI employees rebelled and threatened to join Microsoft with Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman if the board didn't step down. Despite the potential lawsuits from investors, the board members who disagreed with Altman didn't provide a clear reason for firing him. But the situation changed when one of the crucial board members, Ilya Sutskever, switched back to Altman's side, leaving the remaining three board members more exposed.
The board appointed Emmett Shear as the Interim CEO to replace the previous interim CEO, Mira Murati. According to reports, Shear threatened to resign unless the board could provide evidence supporting Altman's firing. This demand played a crucial role in motivating the board to restart negotiations.
