Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and co-founder of ChatGPT-maker Open AI, was terminated by the company on Friday following an evaluation that revealed a lack of consistent transparency in his communications with the board.
In a company announcement, it was stated that “the board no longer has confidence in his ability to effectively lead OpenAI.”
OpenAI disclosed that Mira Murati, the chief technology officer, will step in as the interim CEO promptly while the search for a permanent replacement is underway.
When questioned about Altman’s alleged lack of honesty, an OpenAI representative did not provide an immediate response. The statement indicated that his actions were obstructing the board’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities.
On Friday, June 9, 2023, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, delivered a speech at a gathering organized by Softbank Ventures Asia in Seoul, South Korea. Altman highlighted OpenAI’s focus on enhancing a more advanced, efficient, and cost-effective version of the conceptual AI product, ChatGPT. This innovation propelled AI into the mainstream and triggered a global race among technology companies to develop their unique AI models. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg, an artist, via Getty Images Bloomberg
Altman played a pivotal role in establishing OpenAI as a voluntary research institute in 2015.
Following the widespread recognition of ChatGPT in the preceding year, he emerged as the face of OpenAI on a global scale. During a recent visit to London, he was greeted by an enthusiastic audience.
Altman participated in a CEO retreat at OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco, California, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
He expressed his belief that AI will mark the most significant advancement compared to previous industrial revolutions. However, he also emphasized the necessity of protective measures to safeguard society from the potential existential threats posed by rapid advancements in technology.
Altman stated, “I genuinely believe that the world will rise to the occasion, and everyone is inclined to act responsibly.”
Greg Brockman, the leader and board chair of OpenAI, will step down from his role as chairman but will continue to report to the CEO as part of the transition announced on Friday. The rationale behind this change was not provided in the announcement.
The company’s board includes Ilya Sutskever, the chief scientist of OpenAI, along with three external members: Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, tech investor Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner from the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Microsoft, a key business partner of OpenAI that has made substantial investments in the startup and provided the computational resources for its AI systems, confirmed that the leadership change will not affect their collaboration.
As we usher in this new era of Artificial Intelligence for our customers, Microsoft reaffirms its support for Mira and her team, underscoring the enduring partnership with OpenAI.
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