Sam Altman making a comeback as CEO of OpenAI

In a series of fast developments, Sam Altman is making a comeback as the CEO of OpenAI, marking the end of a surprising power struggle that unfolded last week. The San Francisco-based company, known for creating ChatGPT, announced the agreement for Altman’s return, along with the formation of a new initial board. Leading the board will be Bret Taylor, former Salesforce co-CEO and ex-chair of Twitter’s board. The board also includes former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo.

The upheaval began when Altman was ousted from his CEO position by the OpenAI Board, triggering shockwaves in the tech industry. The latest development signals a resolution to the conflict, with OpenAI stating, “We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.”

Altman expressed his commitment to OpenAI and its mission, noting that his recent actions were aimed at keeping the team together. In a post on X, he mentioned, “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.”

Microsoft, a significant investor in OpenAI with rights to its current technology, responded positively to the changes in the board. Satya Nadella, Chairman & CEO of Microsoft, stated, “We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.” Nadella also expressed eagerness to continue the strong partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI.

The situation had prompted Microsoft to swiftly hire Altman and another co-founder, Greg Brockman, who had resigned in protest after Altman’s removal. Altman’s dismissal had caused a series of resignations within OpenAI, including that of president and chairman Greg Brockman and three senior researchers.

The discussions surrounding Altman’s potential reinstatement started after his removal, with talks between Altman and board members, including Adam D’Angelo. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, had previously indicated openness to Altman returning to OpenAI instead of joining Microsoft.