Update 20 Nov ’23: Attempts to negotiate Altman’s return were unsuccessful. Emmett Shear, ex-CEO of Twitch, has been appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI.
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The OpenAI board’s decision to remove Sam Altman as CEO has led to significant turmoil within the company. Recent developments indicate discussions about Altman potentially returning as CEO, amidst internal upheaval and investor concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Discussions for Return: The OpenAI board is in talks with Sam Altman about returning as CEO.
- Altman’s Stance: Altman is reportedly ambivalent about returning and seeks significant governance changes.
- Missed Deadline: The board missed a crucial deadline, leading to the risk of mass resignations from OpenAI staff.
- Potential New Venture: Altman and former president Greg Brockman are considering starting a new company.
- Internal Resignations: Several senior researchers have resigned, with more expected to follow.
- Investor Reactions: Microsoft, a major investor, remains committed to its partnership with OpenAI but was not informed in advance about Altman’s removal.
- Board’s Composition and Mission: The board, focused on creating beneficial AI, does not hold equity in OpenAI and is not tasked with maximizing shareholder value.
- Power Struggle: Chief scientist Ilya Sutskever’s role in Altman’s ousting suggests a power struggle within OpenAI.