Sam Altman Continues Efforts to Reclaim OpenAI CEO Position

Sam Altman’s unexpected move to Microsoft following his abrupt dismissal from OpenAI may not be finalized. Reports indicate that Altman, along with co-founder Greg Brockman, is open to returning to OpenAI if the current board members who were involved in his firing step down. The potential mass departure of most OpenAI employees, including board member and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has intensified pressure on the board, with only two out of the three remaining members needing to change their stance.

Altman’s recent post on X stating, “we are all going to work together some way or other,” implies a continued struggle, as efforts persist to find a graceful exit for the board. Microsoft’s announcement of Altman’s hiring is seen as a temporary measure to maintain stability, with ongoing negotiations behind the scenes. Microsoft declined to comment on the situation.

Negotiations between Altman and the board hit a stalemate after his sudden firing on Friday. While OpenAI’s management and investors explored potential replacements for the board, the board was conducting its own CEO search. The announcement of Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, as CEO appeared to conclude the possibility of Altman’s return.

Internal conflicts at OpenAI have escalated, with most employees opposing the current board’s stance against Altman. Employees in the San Francisco headquarters reportedly refused to attend a scheduled meeting with new CEO Emmett Shear and expressed discontent in OpenAI’s Slack channels.

Despite playing a significant role in Altman’s removal, chief scientist Ilya Sutskever has since flipped on the board. He joined an open letter calling for the board’s resignation and Altman’s reinstatement, a sentiment echoed by many within the company.

Employees are actively maintaining operations and service stability to prevent a complete collapse while urging the board to resign. New CEO Emmett Shear, however, has faced challenges obtaining detailed reasoning for Altman’s firing, a concern shared by the company’s investors.

In response to the ongoing situation, Altman emphasized in a subsequent X post that his priority is to ensure OpenAI continues to thrive. The relationship between Altman’s commitment to OpenAI and his move to Microsoft, along with the implications for the company’s former employees, remains unclear. Additionally, Altman is not yet listed in Microsoft’s internal corporate directory.