Summary:
- The OpenAI board is in talks with Sam Altman to bring him back as the company’s CEO after firing him with no notice last Friday.
- Altman is “ambivalent” about returning and has been discussing starting a new company with former OpenAI president Greg Brockman.
- OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft, has expressed commitment to its partnership with the AI firm, but Altman’s removal throws the future of OpenAI into uncertainty.
- The current board of OpenAI includes chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, former GeoSim Systems CEO Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner, the director of strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
- Altman’s potential return and the ongoing discussions highlight the state of free-fall within OpenAI without him.
Ted’s Take:
Looks like OpenAI realized they made a big oopsie by firing Sam Altman without warning, so now they’re crawling back to him, begging for his return. Altman, on the other hand, is playing hard to get, probably sipping on a piña colada on a beach while OpenAI struggles. Come on, Altman, just take the CEO gig again and save this sinking ship! But who can blame him? Starting a new company seems way more exciting, especially when you can take a bunch of talented OpenAI employees with you. This is a classic power struggle story, with Altman and the researchers on one side, and the board, led by Ilya Sutskever, on the other side. Get your popcorn ready, folks, because it seems like OpenAI is turning into a real-life soap opera!
Original Article: https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/18/23967199/breaking-openai-board-in-discussions-with-sam-altman-to-return-as-ceo
