- tech360.tv
OpenAI Dismisses CEO and Co-Founder Sam Altman for Board Deception
Updated: Dec 17, 2023
Sam Altman, the chief executive and co-founder of OpenAI, has been removed from his position after the company's board accused him of lacking transparency in his communications. The decision to oust Altman, a prominent figure in Silicon Valley, comes in the wake of the successful launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI's popular chatbot.
In a statement released on Friday, OpenAI's board expressed a loss of confidence in Altman's leadership and emphasised the need for new leadership as the company moves forward. Altman will also be stepping down from the company's board.
The board's statement highlighted Altman's alleged lack of candor in his communications with the board, which hindered their ability to fulfil their responsibilities. However, the specific details of what Altman had concealed from the board were not disclosed.
Altman responded to the announcement with a positive message on Twitter, expressing his love for his time at OpenAI and his excitement for what lies ahead.
Mira Murati, OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, will assume the role of interim CEO, according to the statement. Murati has been a part of the company's leadership for five years. Greg Brockman, the current chair of the board, will step down from his position but will retain his role as OpenAI president.
The sudden announcement of Altman's departure surprised many employees, who learned about it through an internal announcement and the company's blog. OpenAI scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the news with employees.
Altman has been a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. The chatbot quickly gained over 100 million users within a year.
Altman played a crucial role in OpenAI's mission to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), an AI system capable of performing any human task. He co-founded the company in 2015 as a non-profit organization with a $1 billion endowment from notable backers such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Reid Hoffman. In 2019, OpenAI transitioned to a "capped profit" model with Altman as CEO.
Following the launch of ChatGPT, Altman became a prominent advocate for AI and called for regulation to address the risks associated with the technology. He testified before the US Congress on AI legislation earlier this year.
Altman's firing comes just a day after his appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, where he emphasised the transformative potential of AI while acknowledging the need for safeguards.
Microsoft, a key business partner of OpenAI, saw a decline in its stocks following the news of Altman's departure. However, Microsoft stated that the leadership change will not impact its relationship with OpenAI.
At the emergency meeting held after the announcement, Murati reassured employees that OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft remains stable, and Microsoft executives, including CEO Satya Nadella, continue to express confidence in the startup.
Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, has been ousted from the company due to concerns about his communication transparency.
OpenAI's board has expressed a lack of confidence in Altman's leadership and the need for new leadership moving forward.
Mira Murati, OpenAI's CTO, will serve as interim CEO, while Greg Brockman will step down as board chair but retain his position as OpenAI president.
Altman's departure surprised employees, who learned about it through internal announcements and the company's blog.
Microsoft, a key business partner of OpenAI, stated that the leadership change will not affect its relationship with the company.