On November 17, a big drama unfolded at OpenAI, and it involved Microsoft, which had invested $13 billion in the company. The key player in this story is Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. Altman, known for his success with OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, found himself in the middle of a crisis that led to his removal from the company he helped start.
Altman was in Las Vegas for a Formula One race when he logged into a video call and realized something was wrong. The board members of OpenAI, who were supposed to be on his side, were virtually flanking Ilya Sutskever, the chief scientist. They had been whispering behind Altman's back for months and had voted to push him out.
Shocked and upset, Altman initially agreed to support an interim CEO, but he quickly changed his mind and declared war on OpenAI’s board. This incident exposed deep-seated tensions within OpenAI, pitting those worried about the dangers of AI against those seeing it as a huge opportunity for profit and prestige.
Microsoft, having invested a significant amount in OpenAI, and other top Silicon Valley figures rallied to support Altman. Altman's $27 million mansion in San Francisco became a hub for resistance, with CEOs using social media and private text threads to voice their displeasure.
OpenAI, created in 2015, had a mission to build AI systems for the benefit of humanity. However, the board, consisting of individuals with different AI philosophies, found it challenging to agree. Altman, with a background in Silicon Valley, became the CEO in 2019. Tensions rose when the board clashed with him over the direction of the company and concerns about the safety of ChatGPT.
The board accused Altman of not being consistently honest in his communications, leading to his sudden removal. This decision triggered a chain of events, with Altman fighting back and seeking support from influential figures like Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky.
OpenAI’s employees demanded details about Altman’s firing, leading to a tense meeting where accusations flew from both sides. Altman, supported by influential friends, managed to negotiate his return as CEO, but with new board members and an independent investigation into his leadership.
The crisis at OpenAI highlights the challenges in steering the future of AI, with powerful corporate interests and conflicting philosophies playing a major role.
