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OpenAI: Why was CEO Sam Altman sacked? Lack of transparency, personal issues, power struggle and more | Mint

Dec 09, 2023 - livemint.com
OpenAI's board fired CEO Sam Altman due to concerns about his lack of transparency and strategic maneuvering, according to insiders. The decision followed months of deliberation and an incident where Altman allegedly misrepresented board members' views while lobbying for a director's removal. The board's concerns were not limited to this incident, but they feared an apology from Altman would make it seem so. The board's decision led to a significant backlash from OpenAI's employees, with nearly all of the 770-person workforce threatening to quit unless Altman was reinstated.

In the aftermath of Altman's firing and subsequent reinstatement, board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley resigned. Altman's return was marked by negotiations for a statement from the board absolving him of wrongdoing, which the directors refused. The only remaining member from the original board is Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, who was retained to remember the events leading up to the company's leadership crisis.

Key takeaways:

  • OpenAI's board fired CEO Sam Altman due to concerns about his lack of transparency and strategic maneuvering, according to multiple sources.
  • Altman was accused of misrepresenting the views of other board members during discussions about a director's removal, which some board members saw as a pattern of manipulative behavior.
  • After Altman's firing, nearly the entire workforce of OpenAI threatened to quit unless he was reinstated, leading to his return to the company.
  • Following the leadership turmoil, board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley resigned from their positions.
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