Sam Altman Returns to OpenAI: What We Know So Far

OpenAI, the research organization behind the famous GPT-3 language model, has been in the spotlight recently for the controversial firing and rehiring of its CEO, Sam Altman. After a late-night confirmation on Tuesday of the return of Altman to OpenAI, new information is emerging about the future of the board, negotiation details, potential causes of the initial firing, and more.

According to a report by The Information, the key players in the negotiations were Bret Taylor, the new board chair of OpenAI, and Emmett Shear, the interim CEO of OpenAI and the co-founder of Twitch. Shear, who did not want to stay as the CEO since the board did not provide any evidence for Altman’s firing, played a mediator role between Altman and the board, and helped to reach a compromise.

One of the main concessions that Altman agreed to was not to join the board of OpenAI initially, though he is expected to join in the future. This was to appease some of the board members who were unhappy with Altman’s leadership style and his involvement in other ventures, such as Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project that uses eye-scanning technology to distribute coins.

Both sides also agreed to launch an investigation around the firing of Altman, which was done without any formal process or explanation. The investigation will be led by an independent third party and will look into the allegations that Altman violated the company’s code of conduct and ethics, as well as the board’s decision-making process and governance structure.

Another important outcome of the negotiations was the revival of a deal that would allow some of the employees of OpenAI to sell their shares to investors at a valuation of $86 billion. The deal, which was initiated by Altman before his firing, was put on hold after the board’s move. However, after Altman’s return, the deal is said to be back on track, and could provide a significant financial incentive for the employees and researchers of OpenAI.

The return of Altman, along with Greg Brockman, the co-founder and CTO of OpenAI who also resigned in protest of Altman’s firing, has re-energized the staff and the mission of OpenAI, which is to create artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can benefit humanity. However, many questions and concerns remain about the state and future of OpenAI, such as the new board composition, the investigation results, and the real reason why the OpenAI board fired Sam Altman in the first place.

Stay tuned as we learn more about the latest developments and updates from OpenAI.