Amidst tumultuous shifts, OpenAI's co-founder Sam Altman is set to reclaim the leadership position shortly after being dismissed by the board, the company has announced.
In a move described as an "agreement in principle," new board members are slated for appointment, marking Altman's imminent return to the helm.
The saga unfolded when Altman was abruptly ousted, prompting an outcry from staff who issued a collective ultimatum threatening mass resignations unless Altman was reinstated.
"I'm eager to rejoin OpenAI," Altman conveyed in a post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing his commitment to the team and its overarching mission.
He also highlighted plans for the company to fortify its existing collaboration with Microsoft, underscoring a "strong partnership" moving forward.
The upheaval saw co-founder Greg Brockman resign in solidarity following Altman's removal, plunging the prestigious AI company into disarray.
The decision to remove Altman was executed by three non-employee board members—Adam D'Angelo, Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner—alongside co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.
However, Sutskever later expressed regret on X and endorsed the staff's plea urging the board to reverse its decision.
Microsoft, the principal investor in OpenAI, swiftly extended an offer to Altman, proposing his leadership of a newly formed advanced AI research team within the tech giant.
OpenAI's recent announcement disclosed the pending return of Altman, outlining plans to reconstitute parts of the dismissed board. Notably, former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and former US treasury secretary Larry Summers are set to join current director Adam D'Angelo.
Following these developments, Brockman also confirmed his return to the company.
Emmett Shear, serving as OpenAI's interim chief executive, expressed satisfaction at Altman's impending return after a whirlwind "72 very intense hours of work." Shear lauded Altman's reinstatement, highlighting it as the pathway ensuring safety and fairness for all involved stakeholders.
Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, commended the shifts in the OpenAI board, marking it as a crucial stride toward more stable and informed governance.
The leadership upheaval rattled OpenAI when Altman was ousted, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership. Subsequently, the majority of the company's 700-plus staff rallied behind Altman, demanding the board's resignation.
The collective staff letter referenced Microsoft's commitment to offering positions to OpenAI employees, further intensifying the upheaval within the company. Photo by TechCrunch, Wikimedia commons.