In a stunning turn of events that concluded five days of high drama within the artificial intelligence community, OpenAI announced late Tuesday the reinstatement of Sam Altman as its chief executive. This decision follows the unexpected removal of Altman by the former board last week, a move that sent shockwaves through the organization and sparked internal dissent.
OpenAI, renowned for its creation of the popular ChatGPT, not only reinstated Altman but also revealed plans to establish a new board of directors. The company acknowledged the tumultuous events in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.”
The unfolding drama began last Friday when the board of directors removed Altman due to apparent differences in balancing safety concerns with artificial intelligence and the desire to release new AI tools into the world.
Internal dissent quickly surfaced, with hundreds of OpenAI employees publicly demanding Altman’s reinstatement. By early Monday morning, Microsoft, which owns 49% of OpenAI, had hired Altman to lead its new AI team. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also announced the inclusion of Greg Brockman, a former president of OpenAI who resigned in protest after Altman’s departure, in the new AI division at Microsoft.
A significant development came when approximately 97% of OpenAI’s employees signed a letter on Monday, asserting that the board’s actions had jeopardized the mission of OpenAI. The letter called for the dissolution of the board and the reinstatement of Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, threatening mass resignations if these conditions were not met.
The latest announcement by OpenAI, confirming Altman’s return, marks a resolution to the internal turmoil. Altman, in response to the reinstatement, expressed his commitment to OpenAI, stating, “I love OpenAI, and everything I’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together.”
OpenAI, founded about eight years ago as a nonprofit AI research lab by Altman, Brockman, Elon Musk, and others, has undergone significant transformations under Altman’s leadership. Last year, the company’s release of ChatGPT showcased its prowess in generative AI, setting the pace for the industry’s focus on sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies. The reappointment of Altman as CEO signals a renewed commitment to the organization’s mission and its continued leadership in the AI research landscape.
