OpenAI Board Considers Reinstating Sam Altman as CEO
OpenAI’s board of directors is reportedly in active discussions with Sam Altman—former Y Combinator president and OpenAI co-founder—about his potential return as CEO as early as this week. According to Bloomberg, negotiations involve current board member Adam D’Angelo (CEO of Quora) and possibly other directors.
Key Scenarios Under Discussion
- Transitional Leadership: Altman could return as a director on an interim board.
- New Board Structure: Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor may join a reconfigured OpenAI board, as previously speculated.
Investor Pressure and Employee Unrest
Major investors—including Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, Tiger Global, and Sequoia Capital—are aggressively advocating for Altman’s reinstatement. The goal is to resolve the leadership crisis before Thanksgiving to stabilize the company and address widespread employee concerns.
Over 700 of OpenAI’s 770 employees have signed a letter demanding the board’s resignation and Altman’s return, with Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever notably reversing his stance. Compe*****s like Microsoft and Salesforce have seized the opportunity, offering matching compensation to lure departing OpenAI talent.
Altman’s Conditions and Microsoft’s Role
Sources indicate Altman seeks “significant” governance changes as a precondition for returning. This aligns with Microsoft’s position—despite Altman’s earlier acceptance of a role leading a new AI research lab at Microsoft alongside ousted OpenAI president Greg Brockman.
Interim CEO’s Uncertain Position
Emmett Shear, appointed interim CEO after CTO Mira Murati’s brief tenure, has reportedly been excluded from critical discussions. Bloomberg notes Shear may resign if the board fails to transparently justify Altman’s abrupt dismissal. Shear previously committed to an independent investigation into the events leading to Altman’s firing.
Broader Implications
This development follows a memo from OpenAI VP Anna Makanju confirming “intense discussions” between the board, Altman, and Shear to reunify the company. The outcome could reshape OpenAI’s leadership, governance, and strategic direction amid one of Silicon Valley’s most dramatic corporate upheavals.
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