OpenAI board stands by decision to force Sam Altman out of his CEO role
The board of directors of OpenAI, the high-flying artificial intelligence startup, stood by its decision to oust former CEO Sam Altman, according to an internal memo sent to company staff Sunday evening.
OpenAI named Emmett Shear, a former executive at Twitch, as its new interim chief executive, pushing aside Mira Murati, a longtime OpenAI executive who was named interim chief executive after Mr. Altman’s ouster. The board said Mr. Shear has a “unique blend of skills, expertise and relationships that will advance OpenAI,” according to the memo obtained by The New York Times.
“The board remains firm in its decision as the only path to advance and defend OpenAI’s mission,” the memo said, referring to Mr. Altman’s resignation Friday. It was signed by each of the four directors on the company’s board of directors; Adam D’Angelo, Helen Toner, Ilya Sutskever and Tasha McCauley.
“Simply put, Sam’s conduct and lack of transparency in his interactions with the board of directors undermined the board’s ability to effectively oversee the company in the manner he was instructed to do,” the memo said.
Mr. Altman’s resignation shocked the technology industry and OpenAI’s investors, including Microsoft, Sequoia Capital and Thrive Capital. Microsoft, which has invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, only learned of Mr. Altman’s departure a minute before the announcement, while other investors discovered he had been forced out via social media. They received no further information or updates this weekend.
Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The board did not cite any specific incidents involving Mr. Altman as a reason for removing him. Instead, it was alleged that Mr. Altman had “lost the confidence of the board of directors” and that removing him was “necessary to preserve the board’s ability to carry out its responsibilities and further its mission.” organization.”
“It is of the utmost importance that every CEO is honest and transparent with his or her board,” the memo said.
OpenAI and Mr. Altman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.