Surprisingly, when the board’s first attempt to remove him from his position failed, Sam Altman took back control of OpenAI. His firing has caused confusion among many in the IT industry, especially in light of the remarkable success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Nonetheless, Altman has remained silent regarding the reasons behind his termination.
In an interview with The Verge, Altman adeptly sidestepped questions about the circumstances behind his termination. In a post on X, he had earlier made reference to “real misunderstandings” with the board, but when asked to elaborate, he would not provide specifics. Rather, Altman conveyed his excitement for the results of an impartial assessment that OpenAI’s new board is presently doing.
Altman’s reluctance to discuss the matter further leaves the tech community in suspense, as speculation continues to swirl about the nature of the disagreements that led to his removal. The former CEO encouraged those seeking answers to consult the previous board, emphasizing the importance of allowing the review process to unfold.
“I don’t feel ready to go talk about that yet. I think it’s very important to let this review process run,” Altman stated, adding that he is “looking forward to learning more” from the ongoing evaluation.
Despite the chaos that ensued with Altman’s initial departure and CTO Mira Murati assuming an interim role, the latest developments reveal Altman’s return to OpenAI. Microsoft now holds a non-voting seat on the board, and the “new initial board” features Bret Taylor as chair, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. Additionally, Microsoft has secured a non-voting board seat.
While Altman remains focused on the future, stating his willingness to discuss forward-looking aspects, the industry eagerly awaits the moment when he will shed light on the events leading up to his abrupt firing. For now, the curtain of mystery surrounding Sam Altman’s dismissal continues to captivate the tech world.