Sam Altman has resumed his role as CEO of OpenAI, following a brief and unexpected leave from the position. This return was announced in a company memo made public on November 29, marking the end of a tumultuous period for the company.
In the memo, Altman confirmed that Mira Murati, who had served as interim CEO during his absence, would step down and return to her role as Chief Technology Officer. Altman also announced a newly formed initial board for OpenAI, which includes notable figures such as Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor as chair, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora. Greg Brockman will continue in his role as OpenAI’s President.
Altman expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude to the employees, highlighting the team’s resilience and spirit during the uncertain situation. He emphasized his confidence in the company’s success in achieving its mission.
The decision to reinstate Altman as CEO was made on November 22, just two days after his initial dismissal. During this interim, Altman had agreed to lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft under the leadership of Satya Nadella, a plan that appears to have been discontinued following his return to OpenAI.
In a significant development, Microsoft, which has invested $13 billion in OpenAI since 2019, will be included as a non-voting observer on the new board. This role allows Microsoft to attend and participate in board meetings, acting as an advisor without voting rights. This inclusion was not initially expected, as per a November 29 Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter.
Looking forward, Altman outlined his primary focus areas: advancing the firm’s research plan, enhancing its products, and improving customer service. This marks his second tenure as CEO of OpenAI.
Additionally, Bret Taylor emphasized the intention to enhance OpenAI’s governance structure. This includes forming an independent committee of the Board to review the recent events and provide more stability to the firm. Taylor expressed optimism about Microsoft’s role as a non-voting observer, contributing to various aspects from technology to safety and policy.
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