OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati took a key role in the decision to remove CEO Sam Altman from his position, as reported by The New York Times. Murati, along with co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, expressed concerns about Altman’s leadership style to the board and Altman himself in a memo.
The turmoil at OpenAI stemmed from allegations of manipulative behavior on Altman’s part, creating a toxic work environment by marginalizing executives who disagreed with him. Despite Altman’s reinstatement as CEO after a short interlude with Murati at the helm, the situation remains fraught.
A law firm, WilmerHale, is conducting a thorough review of Altman’s dismissal, with a comprehensive report forthcoming. Altman has yet to comment on the matter, but a company spokesperson defended his leadership qualities, citing support from the senior leadership team.
While Murati declined to comment directly, she conveyed a message to OpenAI employees, emphasizing her collaboration with Altman. The relationship between the two seems complicated, with conflicting reports on whether there were specific instances of misconduct or a clash in leadership styles.
The independent inquiry led by WilmerHale will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding Altman’s firing. Until then, the situation at OpenAI remains unresolved, with questions lingering about the company’s leadership and future direction.
