In a dramatic turn of events in Silicon Valley, Sam Altman, the face of generative AI technology, could return to his position as the CEO at OpenAI. Altman was fired by the board of directors, citing communication issues that made the board lose confidence in his ability to lead the company. At the same time, OpenAI appointed Mira Muraty to look after the company’s research, product, and safety functions. As the news broke on the internet, several theories emerged explaining why the CEO was ousted. However, earlier today, Bloomberg reported otherwise.
Why Was Sam Altman Fired?
According to a report by Bloomberg, OpenAI is facing “investor pressure to reinstate Altman.” Per the publication, the firing resulted from several debates between the company and Altman, including differences of opinion on AI safety, the speed of development, and the commercialization of the technology. Further, Altman was also looking to raise billions of dollars from certain Middle Eastern wealth funds to create an AI chip startup. This, along with certain clashes with Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder, led to friction.
Will Sam Altman Return To OpenAI? Investors Sure Want Him To
Now, OpenAI investors are pressing the board to reverse their decision and bring back Altman. According to someone familiar with the matter, Altman is open to returning; however, that might compel the current board members to step down. In another case, if Altman doesn’t return, more senior employees might leave the company and join him in his next project, which could also be related to AI. This, in turn, would weaken OpenAI’s position as the leader, which isn’t something that the company would want.
Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s Chairman, Left Hours After Altman Was Fired
Until now, Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president, and several researchers have already resigned from the company. According to another report by The Information, the company is optimistic about bringing back Altman and Brockman. The publication cites a memo circulated by chief strategy officer Jason Kwon to employees. However, the report also highlights that the other board members would resign if the decision is reversed.
The Board That’s Ready To Leave If Altman Returns
For those catching up, OpenAI’s six-person board consists of Ilya Sutskever, the company’s chief scientist; Adam D’Angelo, the CEO of Quora; Tasha McCauley; and Helen Toner. Given that Altman has successfully carried the company this far, managed to raise the largest investment, and establish it as a leader in the space, the company’s future looks uncertain without him, even though they have a replacement.
Additionally, since the board is ready to leave, Altman’s return isn’t the only thing that could fix the company and secure its position, especially since rivals like Google and Meta are catching up. Earlier today, Sam Altman tweeted on his official X account, saying he loved the OpenAI team “so much.” The ex-chairman of OpenAI, Greg Brockman, reshared this tweet on his X account. The current OpenAI CEO, Mira Murati, also reshared the tweet with a yellow heart. Whether this is a cryptic conversation that hints at Altman’s return or just some meaningless farewell is not known at the moment.
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