Despite Altman's firing, he was reinstated five days later due to a letter signed by over 700 OpenAI employees. Toner attributed this to employees fearing the company would collapse without him and potential retaliation from Altman. In response to Toner's statements, current OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor expressed disappointment and defended the board's decision. Toner concluded by arguing that OpenAI has failed to regulate itself effectively.
Key takeaways:
- Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner revealed that the board was unaware of the existence of ChatGPT until its public release, highlighting a disconnect between the board and the company's operations.
- CEO Sam Altman was accused of not being consistently candid with the board, leading to his temporary firing in November 2023. His attempts to remove Toner from the board after her criticism of ChatGPT played a key role in his dismissal.
- Two OpenAI executives reported instances of 'psychological abuse' under Altman's leadership, suggesting a 'toxic atmosphere' within the company.
- Despite the board's decision to fire Altman, he returned to his position five days later due to support from over 700 OpenAI employees, who feared the company would collapse without him and possible retaliation from Altman.