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12 BUSINESS & FINANCE Thursday, 23 November 2023
Sam Altman’s Return to OpenAI
Reshapes AI Landscape
A surprising turn of events, Sam Altman has agreed to resume of OpenAI employees threatened to leave unless Altman was
his role as the CEO of OpenAI, just days after his unexpected reinstated, prompting a reconsideration.
removal triggered employee unrest. The company, a front-
runner in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, made the Emmett Shear, interim CEO hired by OpenAI during Altman’s
announcement on X, outlining an agreement in principle. absence, expressed satisfaction at the resolution. The return
The new board, chaired by Bret Taylor and featuring Larry of both Altman and Brockman signifies a potential shift back
Summers, aims to bring stability to the organization. to their vision for rapid AI tool deployment. Microsoft CEO
Satya Nadella welcomed the changes to the OpenAI board,
Altman, in a post on X, expressed eagerness to return considering it a crucial step towards stable and effective
and highlighted strengthening OpenAI’s partnership with governance.
Microsoft, its major financial supporter. The move follows
days of uncertainty, negotiations over leadership, and Altman, known for cautioning about AI risks publicly, has
broader discussions about the pace of AI technology devel- been pushing internally for quicker product launches and
opment. Altman’s initial firing, attributed to insufficient profitability. OpenAI’s recent decision to make ChatGPT-like
candor with the board, led to speculations and tensions tools accessible to the public aligns with Altman’s vision.
concerning the direction of AI development. Additionally, talks with Jony Ive about securing $1 billion
from SoftBank for an AI device to replace smartphones indi-
Sources reveal a clash between Altman, advocating for an cate OpenAI’s broader ambitions.
aggressive AI approach, and the original board members
favoring a more cautious strategy. Microsoft, which had As Altman resumes leadership, the industry watches closely
recently announced Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman’s to see how his vision for AI development aligns with the
recruitment for a new AI research division, emerged as a renewed board’s direction, and how this reshuffle impacts
winner in this upheaval. However, the tide turned as hundreds OpenAI’s collaborations and innovations.
