In a swift turn of events, OpenAI has announced the reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO, following his recent ouster. The decision came after frenzied discussions about the future of the artificial intelligence-focused startup. Altman’s return is accompanied by a potential reconstitution of the board of directors that had previously dismissed him. Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary, are set to join Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo on the board.
Altman expressed his anticipation for returning to OpenAI in a post on X. The board’s initial decision to dismiss Altman cited a lack of candor and the need to defend OpenAI’s mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity.
The reshuffle signals a potentially new era for OpenAI, a non-profit organization that has grappled with balancing concerns about the dangers of AI and its commercialization. The development appears to favor Altman and Microsoft, a significant financial backer of OpenAI.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella welcomed the changes to OpenAI’s board, viewing them as an essential step towards more stable and effective governance.
Altman’s return follows a tumultuous weekend during which he initially agreed to lead a new research team at Microsoft. OpenAI’s board rejected his first attempt to return by naming Emmett Shear as interim CEO on Sunday.
The uncertainty surrounding Altman’s dismissal prompted nearly all of OpenAI’s 700-strong staff to threaten to leave unless the board stepped down and reinstated Altman. Altman, in response, expressed a sense of unity, commitment, and focus within the organization.
