OpenAI’s upheaval unfolded dramatically with Sam Altman’s dismissal, triggering a cascade of resignations and strategic uncertainties. The timeline traces the turmoil that ensued, revealing internal rifts and investor pressures. Altman’s ousting led to a potential merger, employee threats, and a shift to Microsoft. Amidst the chaos, efforts to reinstate Altman faltered, leading to interim leadership. The fallout challenges OpenAI’s stability, leaving its future uncertain.
The firing of Sam Altman from OpenAI set a turbulent course, marking a pivotal juncture in the company’s history. A sequence of resignations, strategic twists, and conflicting board decisions followed, thrusting the organization into disarray. This timeline narrates the tumultuous events that transpired post-Altman’s dismissal, shedding light on internal rifts, investor interventions, and the search for stability amidst uncertainty
In an unexpected sequence of events, Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI, faced dismissal from the company known for pioneering AI technologies such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, and DALL-E 3. His termination set off a chain reaction of resignations and strategic upheavals within the organization. The ramifications of this episode are still reverberating throughout the tech industry.
November 16
The unfolding drama commenced with Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s chief scientist and co-founder, arranging a call with Altman, as shared by Greg Brockman, the company’s longtime president and co-founder, on a social media platform. Allegations surfaced that Mira Murati, OpenAI’s CTO and now interim CEO, was informed in advance about Altman’s imminent firing.
November 17
Brockman, in an unexpected turn, received a message from Sutskever indicating a quick call, resulting in Brockman’s removal as chairman from the board but retention as president. Simultaneously, Altman was ousted. OpenAI released a blog post disclosing the executive shake-up and defended Altman’s removal in an all-hands meeting, asserting it was necessary to safeguard the company’s commitment to beneficial AI.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, a major investor and collaborator with OpenAI, publicly commented on Altman’s dismissal, reaffirming Microsoft’s commitment to the partnership. Following the announcement, Brockman, along with three senior OpenAI researchers, tendered their resignations.
November 18
An internal memo from OpenAI’s COO assured employees that the decision did not relate to misconduct or operational concerns but rather a breakdown in communication between Altman and the board. Meanwhile, the planned sale of OpenAI employee shares, valuing the company at $86 billion, faced uncertainty due to the recent developments, potentially jeopardizing the transaction.
Reports emerged of Altman planning a new venture, with Brockman expected to join, possibly in an AI chip startup. Investors, incensed by the situation, exerted pressure on OpenAI’s board to reinstate Altman, enlisting Microsoft’s support. The board tentatively agreed to reverse course but missed a crucial deadline, prompting many employees to consider leaving the company.
November 19
Efforts to reinstate Altman intensified, with discussions at OpenAI’s headquarters, inviting Brockman’s participation. However, negotiations with the board encountered obstacles, with disagreements over reinstatement. Subsequently, Altman was confirmed to not return as CEO, and Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, assumed the interim CEO role.
November 20
Altman and Brockman announced their move to Microsoft, leading a new AI research team. Sutskever expressed remorse over removing Altman and pledged to work towards his reinstatement. A significant number of employees, including Sutskever, threatened resignation unless the board reappointed Altman. Amid this turmoil, discussions arose about a potential merger between OpenAI and rival AI developer Anthropic, aiming to persuade Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, to replace Altman, but the offer was declined swiftly.
The saga continues to unfold, with the fate of OpenAI hanging in the balance, amid resignations, strategic moves, and attempts to stabilize the organization amidst the upheaval caused by Altman’s departure.
Sam Altman’s departure triggered seismic shifts within OpenAI, leaving it at a crossroads. The aftermath witnessed resignations, failed reinstatement attempts, and a transition to Microsoft, altering the company’s trajectory. The saga exposed internal fractures and investor pressures, challenging OpenAI’s future. As the dust settles, the organization grapples with defining its path forward, navigating through uncertainty while striving to regain equilibrium in the wake of Altman’s exit.
