In a swift and unexpected move, Sam Altman, who recently returned as CEO of OpenAI, has terminated the entire board that had ousted him just a week ago, according to recent media reports. The complete overhaul includes the replacement of all board members, with the exception of Quora’s CEO, Adam D’Angelo.
The revamped OpenAI Board now includes notable figures such as Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary and president of Harvard University, among others.
Altman’s dramatic return to OpenAI occurred a day after his appointment as the head of a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft. Confirming the hiring, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed the shared priority of ensuring OpenAI’s continued success.
Altman had shared his perspective on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Satya and my top priority remains to ensure OpenAI continues to thrive.”
The initial decision to dismiss Altman from OpenAI had left the staff saddened, prompting efforts to bring him back. The then-interim CEO, Mira Murati, organized a meeting in an attempt to persuade Altman to return to the company.
Although specific details about the alleged breaches leading to Altman’s removal were not disclosed, the board’s decision indicated a loss of confidence in Altman’s ability to navigate OpenAI through the complexities of the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Reuters reported that the news of Altman’s removal was conveyed to the staff through an internal announcement and the company’s public blog.
Altman’s return as OpenAI’s CEO was announced on Wednesday, and he shared the news on X, expressing anticipation for the future strengthening of the partnership with Microsoft.
“I’m looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with MSFT,” read Altman’s tweet.
A day after resuming his role, Altman initiated a significant shake-up by dismissing the entire board that had initially terminated his position. The board is now entirely revamped, with the exception of Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora, retained under Altman’s leadership.
aparna