OpenAI
Boss fired by ChatGPT developer for failing to ‘be open in his communications’
Sunday, November 19, 2023, 10:31 a.m. GMT
Sam Altman is set for a surprise return as CEO of ChatGPT developer OpenAI as investors face pressure to reverse his surprise ouster.
Altman was fired by the company’s board on Friday, saying he had failed to “be open in his communications,” shocking Silicon Valley.
However, OpenAI’s investors – including Microsoft – are reportedly pushing for his reinstatement.
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On Saturday, The Information, a tech news website, reported that OpenAI was “optimistic” about bringing Altman back.
The report cited a memo from the company’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, telling employees that efforts were underway to bring back Altman and other departed senior colleagues. Altman’s departure was followed by the resignations of Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, and three senior researchers: Jakub Pachocki, Aleksander Mądry and Szymon Sidor.
“We are still working on a solution and remain optimistic,” Kwon wrote, according to the information. “By determination we mean bringing back Sam, Greg, Jakub, Szymon, Aleksander and other colleagues (sorry if I missed you!) and remaining the place where people want to work on AGI [artificial general intelligence] Research, safety, products and policy can do their best work.”
Kwon said the California-based company hopes to continue updating employees on Sunday. Early Sunday, Altman wrote on X: “I love the Openai team so much.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Altman is considering a return, but has told shareholders that he wants a new board and governance structure as a prerequisite while he weighs the option of forming a new company with former OpenAI colleagues. The WSJ said Altman will decide between the two options this weekend.
Altman and Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive are reportedly discussing building a new AI hardware device. It was also reported that SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was involved in the conversation.
Microsoft, the largest investor in OpenAI, along with co-investor Thrive Capital, a venture capital fund and the second-largest investor, are reportedly supporting Altman’s reinstatement. Khosla Ventures, an early backer of OpenAI, wants Altman back at OpenAI but “will support him in whatever he does next,” the fund’s founder, Vinod Khosla, posted on X on Saturday.
Altman’s firing was due to a “communication breakdown” and not “misconduct,” Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap wrote in another internal company memo on Saturday, according to Portal.
Microsoft, Thrive and openAI have been contacted for comment.
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