OpenAI board refutes former board member's allegations against Sam Altman

Just days after OpenAI announced its new safety committee, former board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley publicly accused CEO Sam Altman of prioritizing profits over responsible AI development, hiding key progress from the board, and fostering a toxic environment within the company. But current OpenAI board members Bret Taylor and Larry Summers today vigorously defended Altman, refuting the allegations and standing by Altman’s commitment to safety and stewardship. “We do not accept Ms. Toner and Ms. McCauley’s version of events at OpenAI, and we regret that Ms. Toner continues to revisit issues that have already been thoroughly investigated rather than moving forward,” they wrote. The two former board members said Altman’s “long-standing pattern of behavior” prevented the company’s board from properly overseeing “critical decisions and internal safety protocols.” However, Altman's current colleagues pointed out that an independent review of the conflict commissioned by the company concluded: "The results of the review refute the view that any AI safety issues require the replacement of Altman. In fact, the investigation found that the previous board decision was not based on concerns about product safety or security, development speed, OpenAI's financial situation or its statements to investors, customers or business partners." As for the accusation that Altman cultivated a toxic company culture, Taylor and Summers also refuted it, saying that Altman is highly respected by employees and that Altman is committed to working with the government to mitigate the risks of AI development. (Decrypt)