OpenAI’s board of directors announced significant leadership changes today following a “deliberative review process.” Sam Altman is departing as CEO and leaving the board, while Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati has been appointed interim CEO with immediate effect.
The board stated that Altman had not been consistently “candid” in his communications with them, impairing their oversight abilities. Consequently, they lost faith in his capacity to keep leading OpenAI going forward.
Murati has been part of OpenAI’s leadership for 5 years, playing a pivotal role as the company became a major AI player globally. She heads research, products, and safety at OpenAI. The board expressed full confidence in her qualifications to lead the company on an interim basis amid the transition in their press release.
Not only this, the board announced that the OpenAI President Greg Brockman will step down as chairman but remain in his company role reporting to the new CEO.
About OpenAI startup:
OpenAI was started in 2015, co-founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman along with others, as a non-profit to ensure AI benefits humanity. It restructured in 2019 to allow outside investment while maintaining its original mission, governance, and oversight.
The board remains committed to OpenAI’s founding principles despite its rapid growth. They believe new leadership is required moving ahead and have complete faith in Murati to guide OpenAI through this transitional period as the search for a permanent CEO continues.
In response to this press, Sam Altman said that he’ll say more about it later. He also added that he loved his time working at OpenAI and has enjoyed the company of people working there.
Here’s his full tweet:
