Fired the CEO back at Open AI after the chaos

 

News 

 

Sam Altman 

Sam Altman back as CEO of Open AI 

 

Niklas Gustafsson  

Updated 08.09 | Published 07.04

​

Last week, Open AI's CEO Sam Altman was fired in chaotic fashion.  

 

Now the company announces at X that Altman is returning and that a new board will be appointed.  

 

"Everything I've done in recent days has been to keep our team together and our common mission," writes Altman on X.  

 

Last Friday, Altman was fired and Emmett Shear was appointed as the new CEO. The decision led to an uprising among hundreds of employees who threatened to quit unless the board resigned and Altman was reinstated. 

 

On Wednesday, Open AI at X announced that Altman is returning to the company.  

 

"We have reached an agreement, Sam Altman will return to OpenAI as CEO and with a new board," the company writes. 

 

Open AI also writes that they are currently sorting out the details of the whole thing.  

 

Sam Altman. Photo: Eric Risberg / AP 

 

"I love Open AI"  

 

Shortly after the announcement of Altman's return, he shared his thoughts on recent events.  

 

"I love Open AI and everything I've done in the last few days has been to keep our team together and our common mission," writes Altman on X.  

 

Shortly after Altman was fired, news broke that he would lead an AI team at Microsoft.  

 

He also writes that the choice to go to Microsoft "was the best way" but that the support from the new board and from Microsoft's CEO makes him look forward to returning "and building a strong partnership with Microsoft" 

 

Brockman also returns  

 

Just hours after Altman was fired, word came that Greg Brockman, co-founder and president of Open AI, resigned from the company. 

 

Shortly after they both resigned, the news came that they would go to Microsoft and lead a new department. On Wednesday, Brockman announced that he too is returning to Open AI. 

 

"Back to Open AI and back to coding tonight," Brockman wrote on X. 

 

On X, he also writes that the announcement is a "fantastic success" and that Open AI will come back stronger and more united than ever. 

 

FACTS  

 

Fact: Chaos at Open AI  

 

Altman's firing: Sam Altman, CEO and one of the most influential leaders in the AI industry, was fired from OpenAI. This decision followed a review by the board, which found that he had not been "consistently candid in his communications" with the board​​.  

 

Greg Brockman's departure: Greg Brockman, co-founder and president of OpenAI, resigned from the company. This departure came just hours after Altman's dismissal and caused great surprise​​​​  

 

Employee reaction: Nearly all of OpenAI's 700-plus employees threatened to quit in a letter demanding the board's resignation and the reinstatement of both Altman and former president Greg Brockman​​.  

 

Investor shock: OpenAI's investors expressed surprise and shock at Altman's firing and Brockman's subsequent resignation. These events came as a surprise even to those with direct insight into the company​​.  

 

Returning to Open AI: After their departure from OpenAI, it was announced that Altman and Brockman would lead a new department at Microsoft. But on November 22nd came a new announcement, Altman and Brockman are returning to Open AI.