OpenAI’s board of directors is reportedly engaged in discussions with Sam Altman, a co-founder and former president of Y Combinator, to potentially resume his role as CEO as early as this week.
According to Bloomberg, sources close to the matter reveal ongoing talks between Adam D’Angelo, the CEO of Quora and a current OpenAI board member, and Altman. Discussions may also involve other board members. Various scenarios are under consideration, including Altman returning as a director on a transitional board or former Salesforce Inc. co-CEO Bret Taylor assuming a director role on a new board.
Bloomberg reports active involvement from investors, including Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, Tiger Global Management, and Sequoia Capital, advocating for Altman’s return. The goal is to resolve the management crisis before Thanksgiving, providing OpenAI employees with greater certainty about the company’s future.
If Altman returns, he is expected to reconsider his acceptance of Microsoft’s offer to lead a new AI research lab, alongside Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s former president. Altman’s return is contingent on significant managerial and governance changes at OpenAI, a demand supported by many backers, including Microsoft.
Recent developments follow a memo from OpenAI’s VP of global affairs, Anna Makanju, indicating intense discussions among OpenAI’s management, the board, Altman, and interim CEO Emmett Shear. Shear has expressed a lack of clarity from the board regarding Altman’s dismissal and has suggested that he may not stay if the reasons are not communicated clearly. He has also announced plans to hire an independent investigator to review the entire process leading to this point.
Since Altman’s firing on Friday, OpenAI has experienced significant turmoil. The management team and backers have been assessing potential candidates to replace the board in the event of Altman’s return. Simultaneously, the board conducted its own CEO search, ultimately selecting Shear. The company is facing internal dissent, with over 700 of its approximately 770 employees signing a letter calling for the board’s resignation and Altman’s reinstatement. Additionally, Salesforce and Microsoft are leveraging the unrest to recruit researchers, offering matching compensation to those leaving OpenAI to join their research teams.
