Following a period of internal turmoil and public scrutiny, Sam Altman, the co-founder and former CEO of OpenAI, has been reinstated as the company’s CEO, just days after his abrupt dismissal. Altman’s reinstatement marks a dramatic conclusion to a series of internal conflicts and public controversies that have plagued the non-profit research organisation.
Altman’s initial firing on November 17 stemmed from a dispute with the OpenAI board over his alleged lack of transparency in communications regarding the company’s research and partnerships. This decision sparked widespread debate within the AI community, with many expressing concerns about the board’s motives and the potential impact on OpenAI’s mission.
Following Altman’s dismissal, a group of prominent leaders at OpenAI including names like Mira Murati, Greg Brockham, and over 500 employees also threatened to quit the company and join Altman at Microsoft. In response, the board initiated a review of its decision, which ultimately led to Altman’s reinstatement.
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Mira Murati, who was appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI, has been reinstated to her previous position as company’s CTO while Brockham, the confidante of Altman and one of the co-founders, has been appointed as company’s president.
The company also gets its new board members with names like Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo onboard. Microsoft is now part of OpenAI’s board but in a non-voting, observer role, meaning they can participate in discussions but won’t have a direct vote in decision-making.
“I am returning to OpenAI as CEO. Mira will return to her role as CTO. The new initial board will consist of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. I have never been more excited about the future. I am extremely grateful for everyone’s hard work in an unclear and unprecedented situation, and I believe our resilience and spirit set us apart in the industry. I feel so, so good about our probability of success for achieving our mission,” Altman wrote in his blog post.
“We will build a qualified, diverse Board of exceptional individuals whose collective experience represents the breadth of OpenAI’s mission – from technology to safety to policy. We are pleased that this Board will include a non-voting observer for Microsoft.”
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