Sam Altman is set to resume his role as CEO of OpenAI after overcoming a recent attempt to remove him from the position. This move follows a period of chaos at the company. Former president Greg Brockman, who resigned in protest of Altman’s firing, will also be returning.
OpenAI, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), announced an “agreement in principle” for Altman’s return. The company is restructuring its board, removing several members who faced criticism for their previous decisions. The new board will include members such as Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo, with Taylor serving as the board chair.
Emmett Shear, former Twitch boss, has been named interim CEO while Altman temporarily shifted to Microsoft. Altman had been ousted due to conflicts on the pace of AI development and monetization.
Negotiations for his return faced obstacles, including his request for current board members to step down. Altman expressed gratitude for Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s support in his return to OpenAI.
Nadella, disappointed by the previous decisions of the OpenAI board, welcomed the recent changes, considering them a crucial step toward stable governance. He affirmed the key roles Altman and Brockman, along with the OpenAI leadership team, will play in advancing the organization’s mission.
In response to Sam Altman’s post, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote,
Sam, Greg, and I have discussed and concurred that they play a pivotal role, alongside the OAI leadership team, in ensuring the continued success and advancement of OAI’s mission. We eagerly anticipate strengthening our robust partnership and delivering the value of this next generation of AI to our customers and partners.