November 22, 2023 at 09:06AM
Sam Altman, the ousted leader of OpenAI, will be returning to the company as CEO with a new board. The board will be led by Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and will also include Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary, and Adam D’Angelo, Quora CEO. Altman’s removal and subsequent rehiring highlighted the conflicts over the safe development of artificial intelligence. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, has also hired Altman and another co-founder in response to the turmoil.
Sam Altman, the ousted leader of OpenAI, is returning to the company as CEO. This comes after a power struggle that shocked the tech industry and highlighted the conflicts surrounding safe AI development. Altman’s return is part of an agreement in principle with a new initial board, led by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor. The other board members will be former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo. Altman’s removal had sparked internal conflict and outside pressure from investors. Microsoft, which has a significant investment in OpenAI, quickly hired Altman and another co-founder, Greg Brockman, after their removal. The move also prompted a threatened mass departure of OpenAI’s employees. Microsoft has pledged to welcome all employees who want to join a new AI research unit. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed support for Altman’s return if governance issues are resolved. The new board appointments are seen as a positive step towards more stable and effective governance. OpenAI was initially founded as a nonprofit with a mission to safely build artificial general intelligence before becoming a for-profit business. It remains to be seen if the board’s structure will change with the new members.