An independent investigation has concluded that Sam Altman's actions as CEO of OpenAI did not warrant his removal from the organization. This decision comes after an attempted coup in November, aimed to oust him from his position. The investigation, led by the law firm WilmerHale, delved into the circumstances by reviewing over 30,000 documents and interviewing numerous board members and employees. The firm ultimately advised that both Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman are fit to lead OpenAI, signaling a significant boardroom victory for Altman.
Board Restructuring
In light of these findings, Bret Taylor, the chair of OpenAI's board, announced not only Altman's return but also the addition of three new board members: Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Nicole Seligman, and Fidji Simo. These individuals bring a wealth of experience from their tenures as top executives at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sony, and Instacart, respectively. They will join an expanded leadership team, including Taylor, Altman, Adam D'Angelo, and Larry Summers, tasked with steering OpenAI's nonprofit parent company.
Timeline of Altman's Dismissal and Return
One of the most public tech boardroom scuffles of recent time, below is a timeline of the Sam Altman leadership saga:
- Friday 17, December: OpenAI announces that co-founder CEO Sam Altman has been removed from his position. Fellow co-founder Greg Brockman left with Altman, as did three key AI scientists.
- Saturday 18, December: There were already rumors that OpenAI's small board of six people was regretting its decision. Altman was reportedly back at OpenAI HQ negotiating a return to the company.
- Sunday 19, December: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed the company's ongoing commitment to it OpenAI partnership. At the same time, he said that Altman, Brockman, and the three scientists would join Microsoft's advanced AI team.
- Monday 20, December: Ilya Sutskever, another OpenAI co-founder and apparent prime suspect behind Altman's ousting, expressed regret at the situation. Not only did this remove him as a suspect, but it also further opened the door for Altman's return.
- Tuesday 21, December: Nadella did live TV interviews suggesting that Altman could still return as CEO of OpenAI. Despite Nadella offering Altman a position at Microsoft, he said he was happy if he went back to OpenAI.
- Wednesday 22, December: Sam Altman is named OpenAI CEO again, with concessions such as most of the board being replaced and Brockman not taking a seat on the board. The announcement was welcomed by Nadella.
Future Directions
Following the investigation's closure, OpenAI has declared its intention to reinforce its conflict of interest policy and has announced the creation of a whistleblower hotline for employees and contractors to report concerns. During a press briefing, Altman expressed relief over the resolution of the controversy, subtly referencing disagreements with former board members and emphasizing a collective forward focus. Additionally, inquiries about co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, instrumental in the November incident but whose current status remains unspecified, were met with Altman's optimistic anticipation of future collaborations.
The investigation's public summary, however, has drawn criticism for its lack of detailed disclosure, mirroring the initial vague explanation for Altman's abrupt dismissal. It attributed the board's drastic action to a breakdown in trust and relationship but failed to elaborate on specific grievances or incidents.
