Who Was Behind Sam Altman’s Ouster From OpenAI? New Reports Sheds A Light On Key Executives’ Role

What Happened: Over three months ago, OpenAI’s board made the contentious decision to remove Altman briefly.

An upcoming report from an external law firm is expected to illuminate the reasons behind this dramatic action and the events of the chaotic five days leading to Altman’s return.

But before the official report is revealed, a New York Times report claims that Mira Murati, OpenAI’s CTO, penned a private memo to Altman questioning his leadership and shared her concerns with the board, which influenced their decision to oust him.

Details of Murati’s October discussions with the board have surfaced, revealing her critique of Altman’s leadership style, which she believed involved manipulation.

Concurrently, Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s co-founder and former chief scientist, raised similar concerns about Altman’s allegedly manipulative behavior.

Despite their concerns, both Murati and Sutskever publicly supported Altman’s reinstatement, although Sutskever initially justified the “palace coup” in which he played a role.

However, the situation remains complex, with some employees eager to move past the incident, referred to as “The Blip,” while others await a thorough accounting from the WilmerHale investigation.

The company, valued at over $80 billion, faced potential upheaval as many employees threatened to resign during Altman’s dismissal.

As part of Altman’s return, OpenAI agreed to restructure its board, aiming for a more diverse and independent group of directors. The interim board now includes Bret Taylor, Lawrence H. Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.

Board members feared a talent drain if the executives’ concerns were not addressed. Other factors, such as creating the OpenAI Startup Fund, which Altman legally owned, raised questions about accountability and governance.