Where is Sam Altman now, returns to OpenAI or still at Microsoft?

The exact cause of Altman’s dramatic firing at OAI is still generally unclear, but the broad outlines the following: Altman’s dismissal followed what OpenAI said was a “deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that Sam Altman was not consistently open in his communications with them, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. As a result, the board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.

Altman’s drive to run OpenAI like a startup was deeply opposed by the core group of OAI developers who were increasingly worried that AI technology was developing too quickly and posed existential dangers to the future of humanity. 

OpenAI, which is now the most valuable U.S. startup was co-founded by Elon Musk with Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, John Schulman, and Wojciech Zaremba in December 2015. The company's core mission is to create AI system that is safe and broadly beneficial to the world. 

But some people are arguing if OpenAI is a company better suited to handle the billions of dollars thrown at OpenAI, and the attention it has received since the released of ChatGPT.

17th November - OpenAI announced a leadership transition

Chief technology officer Mira Murati appointed interim CEO to lead OpenAI; Sam Altman departs the company.

Search process underway to identify permanent successor.

The board of directors of OpenAI, Inc., the 501(c)(3) that acts as the overall governing body for all OpenAI activities, today announced that Sam Altman will depart as CEO and leave the board of directors. Mira Murati, the company’s chief technology officer, will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately.

A member of OpenAI’s leadership team for five years, Mira has played a critical role in OpenAI’s evolution into a global AI leader. She brings a unique skill set, understanding of the company’s values, operations, and business, and already leads the company’s research, product, and safety functions. Given her long tenure and close engagement with all aspects of the company, including her experience in AI governance and policy, the board believes she is uniquely qualified for the role and anticipates a seamless transition while it conducts a formal search for a permanent CEO.

Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.

In a statement, the board of directors said: “OpenAI was deliberately structured to advance our mission: to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all humanity. The board remains fully committed to serving this mission. We are grateful for Sam’s many contributions to the founding and growth of OpenAI. At the same time, we believe new leadership is necessary as we move forward. As the leader of the company’s research, product, and safety functions, Mira is exceptionally qualified to step into the role of interim CEO. We have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead OpenAI during this transition period.”

OpenAI’s board of directors consists of OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, independent directors Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology’s Helen Toner.

As a part of this transition, Greg Brockman will be stepping down as chairman of the board and will remain in his role at the company, reporting to the CEO. Read more...

20th November - Microsoft announced his job offer to Sam Altman 

Microsoft, which has invested over $11 billion in OpenAI and owns about 49% of the company, was surprised at OpenAI’s decision and Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft rushed to hire Altman to lead a new AI research group at Microsoft. Greg Brockman, former President of OAI, and other members of the company also resigned in protest of the earlier OpenAI board’s decision to dismiss Sam Altman.

Satya Nadella said: ''We’ve learned a lot over the years about how to give founders and innovators space to build independent identities and cultures within Microsoft, including GitHub, Mojang Studios and LinkedIn, and I’m looking forward to having you do the same.''

21th November - Sam Altman is returning to OpenAI

OpenAI staff had an unplaned party at the company's San Francisco headquarters, celebrating Sam Altman's returning to OpenAI.