The refreshed OpenAI board appears to be more aligned with Altman's ambitions, with new members including ex-Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. Despite Altman's claim that the company could function without him, changes in the board and the support of Microsoft's CEO suggest a shift towards a more commercialized OpenAI and a control structure with a distinctly Altman-ish flavor.
Key takeaways:
- Sam Altman has returned as CEO of OpenAI after a boardroom battle, highlighting the importance of founder control in startups.
- Despite being CEO, Altman claims to have zero equity in OpenAI and the company's unusual corporate structure places the board at a greater distance from its C-suite.
- Altman's return has seen changes in the board, with ex-Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor and former Treasury secretary Larry Summers stepping in, both of whom are more supportive of a commercialized OpenAI.
- OpenAI's version of founder control is unique as its CEO doesn't hold the majority of stock, but the company might now have a distinctly Altman-ish flavor.