Over the past week, the drama happening at the OpenAI office has everyone hooked. It all started when CEO and co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman were fired. Altman was immediately replaced by Mira Murati as the interim CEO. She was also replaced within three days of her appointment by former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear.
In response, over 500 employees at OpenAI had threatened the board with resignation if the board didn’t resign and bring back Altman and Brockman. Let me remind you all this has happened within a time span of five days. The internet and industry insiders were of the opinion that this could mean a collapse of the hottest AI ventures of the day.
Also read: Fired by OpenAI, Sam Altman now joins Microsoft as AI lead
In the latest development happened today. Within just five days of firing him, today on 22 November, Sam Altman was brought back as the CEO of OpenAI. Greg Brockman will join him too. Not only have they been re-appointed, but the board is seeing a change too.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) OpenAI said, “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.” The company further added, “We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.”
Also read: Why OpenAI fired CEO Sam Altman? Find out here
Showing his excitement and confirming the news, Altman also tweeted, “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 Sunday 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 looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with msft.”
On this, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who had welcomed the two at Microsoft said, “We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is the first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.”