The Ousting of Sam Altman Backfires: OpenAI Announces New Board

Introduction

The recent ousting of Sam Altman by most of OpenAI's board members has proven to be a major miscalculation. Despite their efforts, their plan to remove Altman as CEO has failed, resulting in their own loss of influence within the company. Just days after his removal, Altman is making a comeback, with OpenAI announcing his reinstatement along with the formation of a new board.

A Failed Coup

The dramatic coup orchestrated by most of OpenAI's board members has backfired spectacularly. Their grand scheme to topple Sam Altman has fallen apart, and as a consequence, they have lost their positions of power within the company. Less than a week after Altman's removal as CEO, OpenAI revealed that he will be returning to his role. Additionally, the company announced the formation of a new initial board, which includes Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo.

Altman's Return

Altman's return to OpenAI marks a significant turn of events. Despite the board's attempts to remove him, Altman is now back in charge. The new board, consisting of Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo, will support Altman in leading the company. Notably, D'Angelo is the only former board member who has chosen to remain. The previous board members, including Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner, were not mentioned in OpenAI's statement.

Controversy and Regret

The circumstances surrounding Altman's removal remain unclear. However, sources familiar with the situation have provided some insight. Employees were allegedly given two explanations for the board's decision: first, that Altman assigned the same project to two individuals within OpenAI, and second, that he provided conflicting opinions about a staff member to different board members. Despite some remorse expressed by Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, who admitted to deeply regretting his participation in Altman's removal, he is notably absent from the new board lineup.

The Future of OpenAI

The newly formed three-person board will have the authority to appoint up to six additional members. It has been reported that Altman and Microsoft are seeking seats on the board, although negotiations are still ongoing. As the dust settles and the tech world awaits further developments, it remains to be seen if the previous board will provide an explanation for their lack of confidence in Altman's leadership.

Overall, the ousting of Sam Altman by most of OpenAI's board members has resulted in unintended consequences. Altman's swift return as CEO, along with the formation of a new board, showcases the resilience of OpenAI. As the company moves forward, it will be interesting to observe how the new board, led by Altman, steers OpenAI into the future.

Original article: Business Insider

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By: jmann@insider.com (Jyoti Mann)
Title: The Ousting of Sam Altman Backfires: OpenAI Announces New Board
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/openai-board-plan-oust-sam-altman-coup-backfired-2023-11
Published Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:26:07 +0000