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After a whirlwind week of dramatic changes, artificial intelligence research company OpenAI announced on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO with a reshuffled board consisting of Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.
Altman expressed enthusiasm about rejoining OpenAI, stating simply in a post on X that he’s “looking forward to returning to OpenAI.” While details remain scarce at the moment regarding what new strategy or structure Altman might pursue upon his return, OpenAI commented that its leadership team is “collaborating” to hash out the specifics.
We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.
We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 22, 2023
The surprise announcement marks a reversal from last Friday’s surprising news that Altman would be stepping down from his leadership role at OpenAI after the board conducted what they described as a “deliberative review process” and determined they no longer had faith in his ability to effectively steer the company going forward. Altman was replaced by existing OpenAI executive Mira Murati as interim CEO.
Then in an additional unexpected development on Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed plans for Altman and other top OpenAI talent to join Microsoft, sparking speculation that the tech giant was staging a talent acquisition coup of sorts. Around the same time, Twitch co-founder Emmet Shear was instated as the interim OpenAI CEO.
However, following today’s update that Altman would in fact be returning to OpenAI’s helm, Shear shared a cryptic post on X.
I am deeply pleased by this result, after ~72 very intense hours of work. Coming into OpenAI, I wasn’t sure what the right path would be. This was the pathway that maximized safety alongside doing right by all stakeholders involved. I’m glad to have been a part of the solution. https://t.co/AGoDBbwhkq
— Emmett Shear (@eshear) November 22, 2023
Meanwhile, Satya Nadella expressed support for OpenAI’s latest decision saying that it’s a “first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.”
We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring… https://t.co/djO6Fuz6t9
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 22, 2023
He added that Microsoft looks forward to building on its existing partnership with OpenAI.
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