Less than 24 hours after Sam Altman’s unexpected removal from his role as OpenAI CEO, reports indicate that negotiations to reinstate him, driven by major investors like Microsoft, are underway.
The coup against the six-member board, led by chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, excluded Greg Brockman, the company’s co-founder and board chairman. It occurred suddenly, without prior discussions with Altman or major investors.
These investors, especially Microsoft, who have invested an estimated $13 billion in the organization, were caught off guard. While Microsoft publicly expressed confidence in OpenAI’s future without Altman, behind-the-scenes reports suggest they are working to bring him back.
OpenAI and Microsoft have yet to confirm these claims. Other investors are also pushing for Altman’s reinstatement.
See Related: Formerly Sacked, Sam Altman Is Expected To Return As CEO Of OpenAI
The Reaction of Colleagues to Altman’s Dismissal
The turmoil extends beyond Altman’s leadership. It’s compounded by concerns that he might start a competing venture, possibly against his former employer, Reuters reports.
Altman’s sudden exit triggered a string of departures, including Brockman and key AI researchers, raising the prospect of many more employees leaving if Altman doesn’t return. The power struggle between OpenAI’s research and product sides may have played a role in Altman’s ouster.
There are hints that a major AI breakthrough might be at the root of these tensions, as concerns grow about AI advancing beyond human control, potentially leading to a divide between those advocating caution and those pushing for faster progress.
Altman’s return could hinge on governance changes, similar to Steve Jobs’ comeback at Apple. In Altman’s case, this might happen much sooner.