Sam Altman Returns as OpenAI CEO in Microsoft-Led Board Restructure

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

In a surprising move, Sam Altman is set to reclaim the role of CEO at OpenAI as the company undergoes a board overhaul, signifying a partnership with Microsoft, the primary investor in OpenAI.

Altman will be reinstated as CEO, with the revamped board led by Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce Inc. New additions include Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary, and Adam D’Angelo, co-founder and CEO of Quora Inc.

The reshaped board, yet to be finalized, aims to appoint up to nine new directors. Negotiations are ongoing to determine the fate of existing board members, with Microsoft expected to secure representation on the new board.

Altman's return comes with concessions, including an initial absence from the board and an internal investigation into his dismissal. This decision follows four days of negotiations, spurred by a collective threat from the majority of OpenAI employees to resign if Altman is not reinstated.

This swift reversal addresses investor concerns and mitigates the risk of employee departures. Nevertheless, questions linger about OpenAI's future direction and the delicate balance between responsible AI development and securing capital.

Altman, aged 38, gained industry prominence with the success of ChatGPT. Ongoing disagreements with the board and Altman's entrepreneurial ambitions, including plans for an AI chip startup, added complexity to the recent boardroom drama. The resolution introduces stability, and industry observers are closely monitoring how OpenAI navigates the evolving AI landscape under Altman's reinstated leadership.

The recent episode at OpenAI concluded with a celebratory atmosphere at the company's San Francisco office, as employees rejoiced over Altman's return. The situation highlights the challenges in aligning the goals of business-focused individuals with those of researchers who are concerned about the ethical implications of AI development.

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

As OpenAI transitions to a more traditional board structure, including figures like Lawrence Summers, questions arise about the company's commitment to its original mission of creating AI that is safe for the world. The aftermath of this episode will undoubtedly shape the perception of OpenAI within the tech industry and beyond, emphasizing the need for a trustworthy organization aligned with its mission.

Editor’s note: This article was written by Jonathan Gasca in collaboration with OpenAI’s GPT-3.5.