Sam Altman Leaves OpenAI

Tensions soar at OpenAI as founder Sam Altman faces an unexpected ousting on 17 November, swiftly followed by the reported departure of three senior researchers from the artificial intelligence company.

OpenAI’s board of directors disclosed Altman’s removal from the CEO role in a blog post.

OpenAI wrote in a blogpost:

"Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities,"

Mira Murati, the chief technology officer, steps in as the interim CEO.

Resignations of Senior Researches

The decision triggered a chain reaction of resignations within the company.

Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s co-founder and president, announced his departure shortly after Altman’s removal.

Notably, senior staff members, including Jakub Pachocki, director of research, Aleksander Madry, head of preparedness, and Szymon Sidor, senior researcher, reportedly submitted their resignations.

The fallout extended beyond voluntary exits.

Alex Cohen, responsible for board presentation preparations, found himself without a job alongside Altman’s removal.

Cohen revealed being left in the dark about the reason for his dismissal, receiving a perplexing text from Sam before being abruptly cut off from company communications.

OpenAI Internal Strife

OpenAI encounters internal turmoil, as Cohen predicts that almost 40% of the workforce actively seeks new job prospects.

The departures of Altman and Brockman, instrumental figures in attracting talent, pose uncertainties about the company's future retention strategies.

The decision to remove Altman is believed to have roots in disagreements with Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and chief scientist, particularly revolving around new fundraising ventures and AI development strategies.

In the midst of these disturbances, Altman’s next moves remain uncertain.