AI firm reinstates Altman after his firing caused potential employee exodus.
Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, is making a return to the company after his sudden dismissal as CEO last week sparked internal turmoil. OpenAI, the organization behind the popular ChatGPT chatbot, announced on Tuesday via X that it had reached an “agreement in principle” to bring Altman back as CEO.
In addition, the company confirmed the formation of a “new initial board,” which includes notable figures such as former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo. Altman expressed his eagerness to return to OpenAI, stating on X that he was “looking forward to building on our strong partnership with (Microsoft).”
Leadership Drama Unfolds
The situation began last week when OpenAI’s board unexpectedly fired Altman, offering few explanations for the decision. This triggered widespread unrest within the company, with hundreds of employees threatening to resign in support of Altman. Investors also began pressuring the company to restore stability.
Microsoft, which has invested heavily in OpenAI and holds rights to its technology, quickly announced it would hire Altman to lead a new AI research team, offering any OpenAI employees who wished to follow him a place at the company.
However, Altman confirmed that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella supported his return to OpenAI under a revised leadership structure. Nadella also welcomed the changes at OpenAI, particularly the restoration of Altman and the establishment of the new board, stating, “We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.”
