OpenAI CEO asked to return, a day after being fired
The tech universe was shocked by OpenAI's board of directors' move to fire CEO Sam Altman abruptly. But there was surprising news, the CEO of OpenAI was asked to return, a day after being fired to return as CEO.
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| Former Open AI CEO Sam Altman (Photo: Eric Risberg/AP) |
According to The Verge, a source familiar with the matter said Altman felt "ambivalent" about returning to CEO of OpenAI and wanted a change in the company's structure.
OpenAI investors ask directors to change policy
Bloomberg reports investors OpenAI asked the board to change its policy. Several investors even asked for help from Microsoft, one of OpenAI's largest shareholders.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has reportedly communicated with Altman and promised to continue to support him regardless of whatever steps he takes next. Representatives from OpenAI and Microsoft have not commented on the news.
Also, read: ChatGPT Maker Fires CEO.
Shortly after Altman was fired, Microsoft immediately issued a statement saying it remained committed to the partnership with OpenAI. However, OpenAI's investors were not informed in advance of the dismissal or given a chance to weigh the decision.
Altman's sudden dismissal immediately caused a domino effect. Just hours after he was fired, OpenAI President and former chairman Greg Brockman resigned. The two are reportedly already talking to friends and investors about setting up a new company.
Several OpenAI senior researchers also resigned last Friday, and more people will follow, as quoted from The Verge, Sunday (11/19/2023).
OpenAI's board of directors is currently filled by researcher Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, former GeoSim Systems CEO Tasha McCauley, and Director of Strategy at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology Helen Toner.
Unlike the directors of most companies, OpenAI directors are not required to increase shareholder value and no one holds shares in the company. The main mission of OpenAI's board of directors is to ensure the creation of useful general artificial intelligence (AGI).
Sutskever, who co-founded OpenAI and led its research team, played a big role in Altman's firing. Sutskever's role in the coup indicates a power struggle between OpenAI's research team and products.