Ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is back at the AI firm barely a week after he was sacked by the board.
The firm made the announcement on Wednesday, November 23, in a terse message posted on X.
“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,” read the message.
Altman’s reinstatement comes barely a week after his acrimonious sacking. The board did not give specific reasons for the CEO’s sacking.
Confirming his return to OpenAI, Altman hailed the new board, adding that he endeavours to “keep the team and its mission together”.
“I love OpenAI, and everything I’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together. When I decided to join Microsoft on Sunday evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team.
“With the new board and with Satya’s support, I’m looking forward to returning to OpenAI and building on our strong partnership with Microsoft.”
OpenAI’s board fired its former CEO Altman on Friday, November 17, prompting other high-profile departures from the company.
On Monday, November 20, Emmett Shear replaced Sam Altman as the firm’s new CEO.
Taking to X, Shear described OpenAI as “one of the most important companies currently in existence.”
“Today I got a call inviting me to consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to become the interim CEO of @OpenAI. After consulting with my family and reflecting on it for just a few hours, I accepted,” he said in a post on X.
A short while before Shear’s post, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed he was hiring Altman to lead an AI research team at the global tech titan.
“We look forward to getting to know Emmett Shear and OAI’s new leadership team and working with them,” Nadella said in a post on X.
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Sam Altman’s return has enlivened the AI firm once again. Some of the staff posted in support of the CEO’s return.
“Returning to OpenAI & getting back to coding tonight,” Greg Brockman said in a message that was shared by the firm.
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