Sam Altman, the face of ChatGPT technology, was spectacularly ousted from his role as CEO of the company he co-founded, OpenAI, on Friday, in just the beginning of five chaotic days in Silicon Valley.
Altman’s firing led to a near-mutiny among OpenAI employees, who threatened en masse to follow their former leader to Microsoft.
After this apparent ultimatum from the staff, efforts to bring Altman back on board began over the weekend.
Those efforts appeared to be in vain on Monday when OpenAI announced that former Twitch boss Emmett Shear had been temporarily installed as CEO and Altman was moving to Microsoft.
The most shocking moment was yet to come, however, when OpenAI and Altman confirmed late Tuesday, California time, that he had returned as CEO along with a revamped board that included all but one of those who voted for his firing from the company were eliminated.
In less than a week, the tech industry was reeling and the future of OpenAI was still uncertain.
Sam Altman, 38, was removed as CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI on Friday over fears he was disregarding the dangers of artificial intelligence, according to a new report
In addition to causing public concern, this uncertainty was also apparently felt among OpenAI’s six-member board of directors — particularly one of Altman’s co-founders, Ilya Sutskever, according to a New York Times report
Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner raised concerns about the company’s direction on technology security in a paper that drew Altman’s ire
On Friday, reports emerged from various sources in Silicon Valley that Altman had been fired from his role as CEO of OpenAI, prompting the tech tycoon to do so
Jakob Pachocki and his co-founder Greg Brockman were apparently surprised by the firing and both quit late Friday evening in protest at the alleged ambush.
Brockman said in a series of posts on Brockman was the only board member not present.
At this meeting, Altman is informed that he has been fired.
The New York Times later reported that Sutskever and Altman had been at odds for at least a year.
Sutskever was reportedly concerned about Altman’s focus on growth rather than AI security. At the time of their dismissal, the two had already worked together for eight years.
A few weeks earlier, Altman was said to have been angry with another board member, Helen Toner, who is also director of strategy at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Toner published an article criticizing OpenAI and its practices around AI security. In the same publication, Toner expressed praise for one of the company’s competitors, a startup called Anthropic.
“I didn’t feel like we were on the same page about the damage that all of this is causing.” “Any criticism from a board member carries great weight,” Altman wrote in an email to Toner, according to the Times.
The paper comes as the Federal Trade Commission continues to investigate the world of AI. Sutskver appeared to side with Toner in the dispute because, as the Times put it: “[Sutskver] is deeply concerned that AI could one day destroy humanity.”
Executives’ efforts to bring Altman back began on Saturday, and a leaked memo to staff suggested the company was “optimistic” about his possible return.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was reportedly “blindsided” by the decision to fire Altman. Microsoft is one of the largest investors in OpenAI. Nadella was instrumental behind the scenes in negotiations between Altman and the board.
Meanwhile, OpenAI CTO Jason Kwon wrote a memo to employees stating that leadership was “optimistic” that everyone who left, including Altman, would be brought back.
Altman appeared to confirm that he would not be returning to OpenAI with this picture showing him as a guest at OpenAI headquarters on Sunday
On Sunday, rumors circulated on social media that Altman was open to returning if there was a change in the board and management.
The ousted CEO refuted the rumors by posting a snap of himself using an OpenAI guest pass while visiting his old employer on
This was apparently confirmed when Sutskever issued a memo stating that Altman was permanently gone, resulting in several other employees leaving.
Things further developed on Monday when Nadella announced that Altman, OAI co-founder Greg Brockman and Jakub Pachocki would be joining Microsoft to lead a new AI innovation team.
The CEO makes a statement saying his company remains committed to investing in AI.
Emmet Shear, the new CEO of OpenAI after his predecessor Sam Altman was fired, has a wild history on social media, including posts about Nazis, rape fantasies and kinky sex
Meanwhile, former Twitch boss Emmett Shear had taken over as interim CEO of OpenAI, making him the company’s third CEO in three days. Since Altman’s firing on Friday afternoon, former CTO Mira Murati had been appointed to the position.
Shear’s appointment was met with additional consternation from staff after his bizarre posts on X became public knowledge.
In a post on
Some of his tweets also addressed sex and rape, including one in which he insisted that 40 to 60 percent of women have “rape fantasies.”
Hours later, Ilya Sutskever issued a statement expressing regret over his role in Altman’s departure.
Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers also joins the OpenAI board
Former Twitter chairman Bret Taylor is another new addition to the OpenAI board
CEO and co-founder of Quora Adam D’Angelo (pictured left) remains on the board of OpenAI
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also welcomed the news of Altman’s return in a message on X
Altman announced his formal return to OpenAI in a message on X
The Wall Street Journal reports that this was due to an intervention by Brockman’s wife, Anna. The couple married in 2019 at OpenAI’s headquarters, led by Sutskever.
“I deeply regret that I participated in the board’s decisions.” I never intended to harm OpenAI. “I love everything we have built together and I will do everything I can to reunite the company,” Sutskever wrote on X.
He then signed a letter calling for the current board to resign. The letter was issued by the majority of employees who showed up for work on Monday amid the turmoil.
After days of turmoil, Altman announced on X that he would be returning to OpenAI late Tuesday. It was previously reported that Altman and Brockman would be willing to return if the board that fired the former CEO resigns.
The co-founder will join a new board that includes former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and Adam D’Angelo, the sole holdover from the previous administration.
Days earlier, D’Angelo voted to oust Altman. “I love OpenAI and everything I’ve done over the last few days has been to keep this team and its mission together,” Altman wrote on X.
Upon his return, one of the company’s founders, Illya Sutskever, as well as Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley left the company.
Founded in 2015 by Altman and 10 others, OpenAI launched ChatGPT a year ago — and its ability to mimic human writing has proven polarizing ever since
Altman thanked Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella for helping bring about the amazing turnaround.
“When I decided to join [Microsoft] On Sunday evening it was clear that this was the best path for me and the team. With the new board and the support of Satya, I look forward to returning to openai and building on our strong partnership [Microsoft].
In a statement of his own, Nadella acknowledged the board changes that led to Altman returning to OpenAI.
“We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board,” he wrote. “We believe this is an essential first step towards more stable, better informed and more effective governance.”
“Sam, Greg and I spoke and agreed that they, along with the OAI leadership team, must play a key role in ensuring OAI continues to thrive and expand its mission.”
“We look forward to building on our strong partnership and delivering the value of this next generation of AI to our customers and partners.”
OpenAI published its own statement on X to confirm the announcement.
“We have reached an agreement in principle that Sam Altman will return to OpenAI as CEO with a new board of directors including Bret Taylor (Chairman), Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo,” they wrote.
“We are working together to figure out the details.” Thank you for your patience.”