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Sam Altman back on OpenAI board, says ‘pleased that the whole episode is over’
Sam Altman was dismissed from the OpenAI board on November 18 with the ChatGPT maker saying it “no longer had confidence in his ability” to lead the AI firm
OpenAI on Saturday said it is reinstating chief executive officer Sam Altman to the board of directors. The company said that it has full confidence in Altman following investigation into his dramatic ouster last year.
The ChatGPT maker had dismissed Altman on November 18, saying it “no longer had confidence in his ability” to lead the AI firm.
Why was Sam Altman fired from OpenAI board?
OpenAI had hired law firm WilmerHale to investigate into the company's abrupt decision to fire Altman, according to an AP report. The investigation found that Altman's dismissal was a ‘consequence of a breakdown in the relationship and loss of trust’ between him and the prior board, OpenAI had written in a summary of findings.
As per the AP report, OpenAI has also inducted three women members to its board of directors: Former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellman, ex-Sony general counsel Nicole Seligman and Instacart CEO Fidji Simo.
Reacting to the reinstatement, Altman said, "I’m pleased this whole thing is over.” The OpenAI CEO added that he was disheartened to see "people with an agenda' leaking information in an attempt to harm the company or its mission.
“We hope the new board does its job in governing OpenAI and holding it accountable to the mission. As we told the investigators, deception, manipulation, and resistance to thorough oversight should be unacceptable,” a joint statement from ex-board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley.
Last December, Altman had revealed why he was reinstated as the company CEO. In an interview to The Verge, Altman had said he was ‘hurt and angry’ but decided to accept the position once again. "Obviously, I really loved the company and had poured my life force into this for the last four-and-a-half years full time, but really longer than that with most of my time. And we’re making such great progress on the mission that I care so much about, the mission of safe and beneficial AGI."
(With AP inputs)
