OpenAI CEO Quest
Multiple sources familiar with the situation have revealed ongoing discussions between Sam Altman and the OpenAI board regarding his potential return as CEO. Despite his abrupt dismissal from the board on Friday, Altman’s stance appears to be characterized as “having mixed feelings” toward reassuming the role, contingent upon substantial governance reforms within the organization.
The swift engagement between Altman and the company merely a day after his removal suggests a tangible sense of instability within OpenAI in his absence. Following Altman’s departure, Greg Brockman, the company’s president and former board chairman, also resigned, sparking discussions between the two about initiating a new venture. Concurrently, several senior researchers tendered their resignations on Friday, with indications of further departures looming on the horizon.
While OpenAI’s primary investor, Microsoft, reaffirmed its commitment to the partnership post-Altman’s firing, the decision to remove Altman was executed without prior notice or input from investors. Altman’s integral role as the face and leading voice in AI underscores the uncertainty now shrouding OpenAI’s future, especially amidst competitors racing to match the unparalleled success of ChatGPT.
The current OpenAI board comprises notable figures including Ilya Sutskever, the company’s chief scientist and co-founder, Adam D’Angelo (CEO of Quora), Tasha McCauley (former GeoSim Systems CEO), and Helen Toner (Director of Strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology). Differing from conventional corporate boards, OpenAI’s mission extends beyond shareholder value maximization, emphasizing the creation of “broadly beneficial” artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Sutskever’s pivotal role in Altman’s removal this week aligns with insights gathered from multiple sources close to the situation.
This story is still developing…
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