Sam Altman Returns as OpenAI CEO Days After Removal, Accompanied by a New Board

In an unexpected twist, Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI, the company behind the renowned ChatGPT, is set to return to the helm after being ousted last week. This resolution follows a tumultuous few days marked by intense internal and external pressures, highlighting the diverging views on AI development's safety and commercialization.

OpenAI announced Altman’s reinstatement late Tuesday, stating that a new board of directors will accompany his return. The reformed board will feature Bret Taylor, former Salesforce co-CEO and ex-chair of Twitter’s board, as its chair, alongside former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo.

The original board’s decision to remove Altman had sparked internal strife at OpenAI and drew criticism from investors, creating a rift over the company's direction. Altman had become a prominent figure in pushing generative AI technology into the mainstream with the advent of ChatGPT.

Microsoft, a key investor in OpenAI with access to its technologies, played a pivotal role in the saga. The tech giant swiftly offered Altman and another co-founder, Greg Brockman, positions after their departure from OpenAI. Brockman had resigned in protest following Altman’s removal. This move galvanized OpenAI’s workforce, with nearly all of its 770 employees advocating for the board’s resignation and Altman’s reinstatement.

Amidst these developments, Ilya Sutskever, one of the board members involved in Altman’s ouster and OpenAI’s chief scientist, expressed regret over the decision and joined the calls for a board reshuffle.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella remained open to Altman’s return to OpenAI, emphasizing the need for resolving the startup’s governance issues. Nadella later expressed optimism about the new board, viewing it as a crucial step towards more stable and effective governance.

Altman, on his part, shared his eagerness to rejoin OpenAI, acknowledging the support from Nadella and highlighting the continuing partnership with Microsoft.

OpenAI, initially established as a nonprofit to develop artificial general intelligence safely, later transitioned to a for-profit entity while still under nonprofit board governance. The new board’s formation and any potential changes to this structure remain to be seen.

The episode underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the development and governance of AI technologies, especially as they rapidly evolve and integrate into various aspects of society and business.