Sam Altman to return as OpenAI CEO after an agreement
OpenAI announced on November 17 that they removed CEO Sam Altman from his post. (Photo Credits: Getty Images)
Sam Altman, the former CEO ousted by OpenAI, has agreed to return to the company in his previous role as CEO after discussions with board members Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo.
OpenAI, renowned for ChatGPT, terminated its CEO, Sam Altman, on November 17, following which he accepted a position at Microsoft
We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 22, 2023
We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, expressed encouragement for the changes in the OpenAI board, considering it a crucial step towards stable and effective governance.
We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring… https://t.co/djO6Fuz6t9
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 22, 2023
What
- On November 17, OpenAI announced the removal of CEO Sam Altman from his position.
- This decision followed a review that highlighted inconsistencies in his communications with the board, leading to a loss of trust in his leadership abilities at OpenAI.
- Concurrently, Greg Brockman, a co-founder, resigned from his role as President on the same day.
Sam and I are shocked and saddened by what the board did today.
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 18, 2023
Let us first say thank you to all the incredible people who we have worked with at OpenAI, our customers, our investors, and all of those who have been reaching out.
We too are still trying to figure out exactly…
Greg Brockman also confirmed his return on X.
Returning to OpenAI & getting back to coding tonight.
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 22, 2023
The aftermath
- After Sam Altman was unexpectedly removed, many OpenAI staff became upset, and most said they would leave unless Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were brought back.
- Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella showed commitment to OpenAI and Altman regardless of the situation.
- Emmett Shear, the temporary leader of OpenAI, was reportedly part of the talks.
Microsoft, being OpenAI's biggest investor, offered Altman a job.
We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in our product roadmap, our ability to continue to innovate with everything we announced at Microsoft Ignite, and in continuing to support our customers and partners. We look forward to getting to know Emmett…
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 20, 2023
The board's choice to remove Altman, which resulted in Brockman's resignation, led to significant upheaval.
The decision was made by three board members—Adam D'Angelo, Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner—alongside co-founder Ilya Sutskever.
Previously, OpenAI had a six-member board before recent developments.
In response to widespread discontent, 743 out of 770 employees signed a letter demanding the board's resignation, issuing a threat of mass departures if their demands were not heeded.
Ongoing negotiations are underway to address the concerns within the company.