Despite the controversy, Altman was eventually reinstated as CEO. Toner attributed this to employees being presented with two options: restoring Altman or risking the company's collapse. Many employees also feared retaliation from Altman. OpenAI's lead investor, Microsoft, also supported Altman's return. Current OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor expressed disappointment at Toner's revelations, stating that an independent review found no concerns regarding product safety, development pace, finances, or statements to investors. He also noted that over 95% of employees, including senior leadership, asked for Altman's reinstatement.
Key takeaways:
- Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, was ousted by the board in November 2023 due to a lack of trust, with reasons including his failure to disclose his ownership of the OpenAI Startup Fund and providing inaccurate information about the company's safety processes.
- Former board member Helen Toner alleges that Altman created a toxic atmosphere at OpenAI, with accusations of psychological abuse and manipulation, and that he targeted her personally after she published a research paper that angered him.
- Despite his ousting, Altman eventually returned to OpenAI due to pressure from employees and lead investor Microsoft, who feared the company's destruction without him.
- Toner also revealed that Altman had been fired from his previous job at Y Combinator for similar reasons, and that his only other job in Silicon Valley, his startup Loopt, had also seen calls for his dismissal due to "deceptive and chaotic behavior".