Sam Altman to Return Back to OpenAI: What’s Going On?

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Sam Altman, the ousted OpenAI founder, will return back to run the company as the CEO under a new board.

In a bizarre reversal drama, the co-founder of the leading generative artificial intelligence startup will rejoin the company, days after he was pushed out of it.

Per a post on X (Twitter) on Wednesday, the company confirmed that it had “reached an agreement in principle for Sam to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board.”

The initial board will be led by Bret Taylor, a former co-CEO of Salesforce. Other directors include Larry Summers, the former US Treasury Secretary, and existing member Adam D’Angelo.

“We are collaborating to figure out the details,” the post read.

We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam 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

Altman left OpenAI on November 17, following an unusual company structure that weakened his position as the CEO. However, the AI entrepreneur joined software behemoth Microsoft soon after.

In a separate post by Altman, he noted that he is looking forward to rejoining OpenAI and building a strong partnership with Microsoft.

“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,” he wrote.

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 msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. with the new board and w satya’s support, i’m…

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 22, 2023

The company stressed that the reworked OpenAI board is not a final one.

Microsoft head Sathya Nadella said that he is “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,” he wrote.

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