In a surprising turn of events, Sam Altman is set to reclaim his role as the Chief Executive of OpenAI after a turbulent week of negotiations and debates. OpenAI revealed that an "agreement in principle" has been reached for Altman's return, marking the end of a period of uncertainty following his abrupt dismissal last week.
“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 Microsoft on Sunday evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. With the new board and with Satya’s support, I’m looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with Microsoft,” said Sam Altman in a statement on X.
Reshaping the board
In tandem with Altman's return, OpenAI is reshaping its board, bidding farewell to several members who faced intense scrutiny for their recent controversial decision. Former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor, ex-U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Quora founder Adam D’Angelo are set to join the revamped board, with Taylor assuming the role of chair.
Microsoft, holding approximately 49% ownership in OpenAI, was caught off guard by Altman's dismissal. In a swift response, they rushed to appoint Altman to lead a new AI group within the company. This move led to the resignation of Greg Brockman, former President of OpenAI, and other members who opposed the initial board decision. In a noteworthy development, Brockman, now back at OpenAI, expressed optimism about the changes to the board.
Emmett Shear, the former Twitch CEO appointed as OpenAI's interim leader, welcomed the decision for Altman's return, emphasizing that the chosen pathway prioritizes safety while respecting all stakeholders. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who voiced disappointment in the previous board's decision, expressed encouragement at the latest changes to the OpenAI board.
“We believe this is a 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. We look forward to building on our strong partnership and delivering the value of this next generation of AI to our customers and partners,” said Satya Nadella, in a statement on X.
The prior board, featuring Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, independent directors D’Angelo and technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner from Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology, faced public scrutiny for their abrupt decision. Despite public demand, the board never provided a comprehensive explanation for their actions, leading to growing frustration among OpenAI investors, some of whom explored legal options against the board members.
