We left ourselves with OpenAI in full sail.
At DevDav last November 6, on the day dedicated to developers, Sam Altman and the management presented some important innovations, already available for ChatGPT Plus, the paid version of the OpenAI chatbot. As an almost immediate consequence, there was such a demand for new logins to ChatGPT Plus that the company was forced to temporarily suspend subscriptions to the paid version of the AI software.
Yet, a few days later, bolt from the blue: OpenAI’s board of directors fired Sam Altman. And he would have already found a replacement. We assess the situation.
Sam Altman licenciato da OpenAI
With a truly unexpected statement, made public on Friday 17 November, the OpenAI board of directors announced the dismissal of Sam Altman. Even if the title of the note, more softly, speaks of a “change in leadership”.
Ma Reading the press release one finds vitriolic words. In fact, the board stated that Altman “has not been consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering his ability to carry out his responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue to lead OpenAI.”
This is followed by thanks, which sound almost paradoxical, to Sam Altman for his commitment, and the reassurance that OpenAI will continue to make its utmost commitment to “carrying out our mission: ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits all humanity.”
Mira Murati new interim CEO
In the press release we also read that Greg Brockman, one of the founders of OpenAI, will resign from his role as president of the company’s board of directors.
But above all that Mira Murati, until now Chief Technology Officer, will take on the role of interim CEO, with immediate effect, while waiting to find a full-time replacement.
Thirty-four-year-old Mira Murati has been a member of OpenAI’s leadership team for five years. And, the statement explains, she “brings with her a unique skill set, an understanding of the company’s values, operations and business, and already leads the company’s research, product and security functions.”
What will happen?
Sam Altman fired and Greg Brockman who, freshly resigned, writes in X “Great things are coming soon”. In short, what will happen?
There are those who assume that the two are planning to start a new company. Then, a few hours after the publication of the OpenAI press release, the indiscretion arrived: the board of directors was negotiating with Sam Altman for his reinstatement in the role of CEO.
OpenAI and the about-face hypothesis
It seemed that, a few hours after relieving Sam Altman from his role, the OpenAI board of directors had already had second thoughts. And he had contacted the rising star of artificial intelligence to negotiate the terms of his reinstatement.
Altman would have made it a condition for the removal of the entire board, with which any relationship of trust has clearly disappeared.
Investors would also have had a central role in this sense. Who, concerned that the dismissal of the company’s symbolic face could harm both the growth and image of OpenAI, pushed for Altman’s requests to be granted.
There is more. Microsoft, as we know, has made investments in OpenAI of around 13 billion dollars. And so, if the Redmond company has confirmed the continuation of full collaboration, it seems that CEO Satya Nadella has contacted Altman to encourage his return.
Emmett Shear new CEO of OpenAI
In the next few hours we will therefore know what will happen to Sam Altman. And while we are writing the article there is a further, important development. The name of the next CEO of OpenAI now seems certain. This is Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch and its co-founder, who resigned earlier this year.
The plans for Sam Altman’s return would therefore have failed. And prophetic was a post he published on