In a recent communication to the team at OpenAI, Sam Altman made a noteworthy return to the helm as CEO, emphasizing a shift in leadership dynamics. Altman, a co-founder of OpenAI, officially resumed his role, putting an end to the whirlwind caused by his unexpected temporary departure. The announcement, shared through a company memo on Nov. 29, confirmed the stepping down of interim CEO Mira Murati, who will revert to her previous role as chief technology officer.
Altman further disclosed the composition of the new initial board, led by Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor. The board includes prominent figures such as Larry Summers, former United States Secretary of the Treasury, and Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora. Notably, D’Angelo had been part of OpenAI’s board before the events that unfolded in mid-November. Greg Brockman is set to resume his role as OpenAI’s President.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the future, Altman conveyed gratitude for the hard work put in by everyone during the uncertain and unprecedented situation. He expressed confidence in the resilience and spirit that set OpenAI apart in the industry, stating, “I feel so, so good about our probability of success for achieving our mission.”
The decision to reinstate Altman as CEO was signaled on Nov. 22, a mere two days after his abrupt firing. During this period, Altman had tentatively agreed to lead a new advanced artificial intelligence (AI) research team at Microsoft under Satya Nadella’s leadership, a plan that seemingly did not materialize.
Altman also disclosed that Microsoft, despite not having voting rights, will be included as a non-voting observer on the new board. He expressed satisfaction with the choice to partner with Microsoft, highlighting their inclusion on the board as a positive move.
A board observer, as Altman clarified, is an individual allowed to attend and participate in board meetings but lacks voting rights, functioning more as an advisor. Interestingly, Microsoft was not initially anticipated to be offered a seat, as reported by Reuters on Nov. 29, citing a source familiar with the matter. This is despite Microsoft’s substantial investment of $13 billion in OpenAI across multiple deals since 2019, the entity behind ChatGPT.
Looking ahead, Altman outlined his key priorities for his second stint as CEO: advancing the firm’s research plan, improving its products, and enhancing customer service. In the official announcement, Taylor emphasized OpenAI’s commitment to “enhance the governance structure” and establish “an independent committee of the Board to oversee a review of the recent events,” aiming to bring more stability to the firm. He expressed hope that Microsoft’s addition to the board would contribute to steadying the ship, stating, “From technology to safety to policy […] we are pleased that this Board will include a non-voting observer for Microsoft.”
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