Sam Altman is all set to return as OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after the company came to an “agreement in principle” for Altman to return as CEO.
Sam Altman to return as OpenAI CEO
Further, as part of the agreement, OpenAI is forming a new initial board with Bret Taylor (Chair), former co-CEO of Salesforce, Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury, and Adam D’Angelo, co-founder and CEO of Quora.
“We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman 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 San Francisco-based start-up behind ChatGPT wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman 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.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 22, 2023
Meanwhile, Altman thanked Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for his support to return to OpenAI.
“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. when i decided to join msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. with the new board and w satya’s support, i’m looking forward to returning to openai, and building on our strong partnership with msft (sic),” Altman said in a post on X.
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. when i decided to join msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. with the new board and w satya’s support, i’m…
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 22, 2023
Reposting Altman’s post on X, Nadella welcomed the changes to OpenAI’s board. “We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance,” he wrote.
He added, “Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring OAI continues to thrive and build on its mission. We look forward to building on our strong partnership and delivering the value of this next generation of AI to our customers and partners.”
We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring… https://t.co/djO6Fuz6t9
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 22, 2023
Greg Brockman, who resigned as President and co-founder at OpenAI to disapprove Altman’s expulsion, is also returning to the company.
Returning to OpenAI & getting back to coding tonight.
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 22, 2023
For those unaware, the last few days have been a rollercoaster ride for Microsoft and OpenAI since the OpenAI board of directors ousted Sam Altman last Friday after they said it “no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.”
While Altman tried negotiating over the weekend to return as OpenAI CEO, the negotiations fell apart, with the board naming former Twitch CEO and co-founder Emmett Shear as the interim CEO on Monday.
However, on Monday, Nadella announced that Altman, former President Greg Brockman, and their colleagues will join the company to lead a new advanced AI (artificial intelligence) research team. Nadella also indirectly hinted at Altman’s new role within Microsoft.
Earlier on Tuesday, more than 500 OpenAI employees issued a letter to the OpenAI board threatening to quit the company unless Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were reinstated and all current board members resigned. They also added that they would move out of the company and join Altman and Brockman’s newly announced Microsoft-led subsidiary.