The farcical drama that OpenAI’s internal upheaval has become reaches its anticlimactic conclusion with everything staying the same yet changing entirely. OpenAI has announced it reached a preliminary agreement with Sam Altman for his return to his former position as CEO, supported by former SalesForce CEO Bret Taylor as his right-hand man and with the backing of Satya Nadella.
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The news comes after Altman’s expulsion from the company due to a loss of trust led to the resignation of Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s co-founder, and the signing of a collective letter that would have meant the resignation of 95% of the staff. The chaos escalated to the point where the interim CEO appointed by the board stated his intention to resign if nobody clarified the reasons for Altman’s dismissal.
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
Meanwhile, Microsoft was quick to capitalize on the chaos. The Redmond-based company took less than 24 hours to announce the hiring of Altman and Brockman to lead a new division dedicated to artificial intelligence, while also announcing job openings for OpenAI employees who wished to follow their former leaders.
Sam Altman Imposes His Conditions For Returning With Microsoft’s Support
Altman, who, according to industry sources, had been ambivalent about returning to OpenAI, has nonetheless set forth a series of conditions. The agreement reached with the company includes an independent investigation to clarify the events that led to his dismissal, and a team will be formed with the mission of selecting a new nine-member board, thoroughly vetted to avoid further surprises.
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
Microsoft, theoretically positioned to benefit greatly from Altman and his employees’ departure (their hiring would have effectively meant buying OpenAI at a low price and without regulatory oversight), appears satisfied with this apparent resolution, especially considering its 49% ownership of the company. According to Nadella, “Sam, Greg, and I have spoken and agreed that they will have a key role in the leadership of OpenAI,” all in pursuit of a “more stable, well-informed, and effective direction.”
