On Monday, 490 employees of OpenAI issued a threat to resign unless the board resigned and reinstated Sam Altman as CEO, along with co-founder and former president Greg Brockman. The board controversially terminated Altman on Friday.
In an email, it was expressed that the termination of Sam Altman and the removal of Greg Brockman from their positions had jeopardized the progress and integrity of the company. The board’s actions were criticized for lacking the necessary management skills required for OpenAI.
Ilya Sutskever, a prominent scholar and board member who played a key role in the removal of Altman, surprisingly signed the letter. Prior to the email’s public release, Sutskever expressed regret for his involvement in the actions against OpenAI, emphasizing his commitment to the company’s success.
Following Altman’s dismissal on Friday due to alleged communication issues, Mira Murati was appointed as the interim CEO of OpenAI. However, amidst a tumultuous weekend in Silicon Valley, Altman and Brockman were rumored to be joining Microsoft to lead a new AI research unit under CEO Satya Nadella.
Despite initial support for Altman’s return as CEO, the board of OpenAI underwent rapid changes, appointing Emmett Shear as the interim CEO after removing Murati from the position.
The lack of communication regarding Altman’s termination led to internal unrest among OpenAI employees, prompting discussions about their future. The employees threatened to depart for Microsoft with Altman if the board did not reconsider their decisions.
The OpenAI team highlighted their significant contributions to the field of AI, emphasizing their global impact and innovative research. They reiterated their discontent with the board’s actions, citing a lack of transparency and effective leadership.
In response to the board’s actions, the OpenAI leadership team engaged in discussions to address concerns and find a resolution. However, the board’s continued decisions led to further discontent among the employees, ultimately resulting in the threat of mass resignations.
The employees emphasized the importance of skilled and ethical leadership for the company’s success, indicating their willingness to depart for Microsoft if necessary changes were not made within OpenAI’s board.
