The board of OpenAI is engaged in discussions with former CEO Sam Altman to return to the company in his previous role. This comes after he was promptly dismissed from his role on Friday without any prior notice.
In response to Altman’s dismissal, several OpenAI employees threatened to resign from the company. While the board met their demand to allow the former CEO to return, they missed the 5 p.m. deadline set by the workers. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and former board chairman, resigned after Altman’s dismissal, as did several senior researchers, with reports emerging of further resignations in the works.
Following Altman’s dismissal, Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, affirmed its commitment to the ChatGPT maker, however, investors were caught off guard by the decision given that no prior warning was given nor any opportunity to weigh in on the issue.