Sam Altman is returning to OpenAI as CEO, the company announced on Wednesday. The move comes after a week of intense discussions and debates following Altman’s sudden dismissal last week.
OpenAI, which is the most valuable U.S. startup, said it has reached an “agreement in principle” for Altman’s return. The startup is also reforming its board, eliminating several members who faced scrutiny for their decision to fire Altman.
Former Salesforce chief executive Bret Taylor, former US Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers, and Quora founder Adam D’Angelo will be joining the new board, OpenAI said. Taylor will serve as the chair of the board.
Microsoft, which owns about 49% of OpenAI, was taken aback by the company’s decision to fire Altman and rushed to hire him to lead a new AI group at the software giant. Greg Brockman, former President of OpenAI, and countless other members of the startup resigned in protest of the decision.
Altman said in a statement that he is excited to return to OpenAI and work with the new board to build on the company’s strong foundation. He also thanked Microsoft for its support.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that he is encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board and looks forward to continuing to partner with the company.
The return of Altman and the reformation of the board are a positive development for OpenAI. The company is now in a better position to focus on its mission of developing safe and beneficial artificial intelligence.
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