The OpenAI mess appears to have been resolved with the appointment of Microsoft to the board and the reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman. After a controversial series of events involving board member firings and staff resignations, Altman has officially resumed his role as CEO. Microsoft will join the independent OpenAI board as a non-voting observer, while Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo will retain his seat despite potential conflicts of interest.
The turmoil at OpenAI began on November 17 when Altman and another board member, Brockman, were fired without clear reasons provided. This led to an outpouring of support for Altman from the tech world and a push from major investors to reinstate him. In response, Microsoft offered jobs to Altman, Brockman, and other members of the OpenAI team. In a show of solidarity, the majority of OpenAI staff signed an open letter threatening to resign unless Altman was reinstated and the board was changed.
Initially, interim leadership was assigned to CTO Mira Murati, but within 48 hours, Twitch co-founder Emmett Shear was appointed as another interim CEO. Further negotiations resulted in the removal of all but one board member and Altman’s reinstatement. However, compromises were made, leading to the appointment of a new oversight board consisting of Bret Taylor as chair, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.
Altman acknowledged that the controversy may have caused misunderstandings and stated that an independent review of the events will be conducted. He expressed gratitude towards former board members Helen and Tasha for their contributions. Altman also addressed concerns about Adam D’Angelo’s position on the board, stating that D’Angelo has been transparent about any potential conflicts of interest and has taken steps to manage them.
Looking ahead, OpenAI plans to rebuild and move forward. Altman expressed his appreciation and respect for former board member and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, despite Sutskever’s initial vote to fire Altman. Altman hopes to continue working with Sutskever in a different capacity.
The controversy may not be fully resolved yet, as the board has committed to conducting an independent investigation into the events. The exact reasons behind Altman’s firing remain unclear, but progress towards stability and reconciliation has been made at OpenAI.
As the situation unfolds, OpenAI is determined to prioritize the company’s mission and continue their important work in the field of artificial intelligence. With Altman back at the helm and renewed board composition, the organization aims to navigate future challenges and ensure its success in the years to come.
