OpenAI averts internal crisis with return of CEO Sam Altman

OpenAI, a prominent US artificial intelligence firm and the creator of the widely-used chatbot ChatGPT, has averted an internal crisis by reinstating Sam Altman as CEO.

The decision comes after Altman’s abrupt termination last week, which prompted a wave of internal turmoil, with hundreds of staff threatening to resign and investors urging the restoration of stability.

Announcing the resolution on the social media platform X, OpenAI revealed an “agreement in principle” to bring back Sam Altman and establish a “new initial board.” The restructured board 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 enthusiasm about returning to OpenAI on X, emphasizing his commitment to building upon the strong partnership with Microsoft. This development follows Microsoft’s earlier announcement of hiring Altman to lead a new artificial intelligence research team, with an open invitation for OpenAI employees to join him.

Despite the initial upheaval, Altman disclosed that he enjoys the support of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in resuming his role as OpenAI’s CEO within the revamped leadership structure. Nadella welcomed the changes and stated on X, “We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.”

OpenAI, known for its flagship product ChatGPT, faced a significant challenge in its leadership, but with Altman’s return and the establishment of a new board, the company aims to restore stability. Nadella’s endorsement signals optimism for the future of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT has gained widespread global popularity since its public release in November 2022, accumulating over 100 million monthly users in less than a year.