OpenAI's board of directors has released a brief but forceful statement, saying that Altman's 'departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering their ability to carry out their responsibilities.'
What has happened, and what can we learn? The truth is that nothing is clear yet, nor has any media leaked anything clarifying. There is speculation that Altman has been promoting some agreement without being transparent with the board. Also, with the fact that Microsoft has been gradually playing its cards after investing in OpenAI, or that the board did not like new Altman projects.
Additionally, the possibility of a personal scandal involving the now-former CEO or the presence of a significant sanction on the table due to poor management has also been considered.
Altman joins a list of illustrious CEOs fired
Cases like this are not new in the Silicon Valley ecosystem.
Business history is full of notable CEO dismissals, such as Apple's Steve Jobs, PayPal's Elon Musk (before Tesla and SpaceX or Twitter/X), and Twitter's Jack Dorsey.
These cases illustrate that even visionary founders and leaders are not exempt from facing disagreement with boards of directors and shareholders. For example, Steve Jobs was fired in 1985 from the company he founded but returned years later to take Apple to new heights.
Lack of communication and trust
Based on the board statement and the way these big tech companies operate, this is the predominant theory circulating right now. "Not consistently frank" is a very diplomatic way of saying that Altman lied.
It's possible that Altman—and potentially OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who simultaneously stepped down as president and then resigned—wanted to make a bold move that he knew the board wouldn't like.
But what kind of deal would be big and dangerous enough for a summary dismissal of the company's CEO and famous face?
The hidden power of Microsoft
Few would be surprised if Microsoft, deeply embedded in OpenAI as both an investor and a customer, is a factor here. Could Altman have secretly been working with—or against—OpenAI's biggest investor?
It is possible that the board no longer wanted to continue counting on Altman for Microsoft's own interests. It should be noted that since its investments, OpenAI is divided into two entities: OpenAI Incorporated and OpenAI LP. The first is the non-profit organization founded in 2015, while the second is a limited-profit subsidiary established in 2019 following the departure of Elon Musk. Following the $10 billion investment, Microsoft owns 49% of OpenAI LP.
Now Microsoft is integrating its technology into many of its products, which may make OpenAI lose relevance.
Lack of attention
Another recurring reason for this decision is when the board alleges a lack of focus on the company. Musk has suffered accusations like this at Tesla since he owned Twitter, and before. Dorsey also went through the same thing on Twitter since he founded Square.
Altman, for his part, has been working for months on initiatives such as Wordcoin, a new proposal to create a global digital identity. That could have been another reason.
Could Altman and the board have had irreconcilable differences about continuing to invest money?
Altman's departure also reflects the complexity of running a pioneering tech company where every decision can have profound implications for the future of the company and its impact on society. As OpenAI moves forward under the interim leadership of Mira Murati, we will learn what the underlying reason is and also if Altman puts something new into motion.
Who is Sam Altman?
At just 38 years old, American tech entrepreneur Sam Altman has already had an impressive career. The self-proclaimed tech nerd gained international recognition primarily through OpenAI and ChatGPT.
OpenAI, founded in 2015 as a research organization in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), shook the world last year with the introduction of ChatGPT and the DALL-E image generator. For the first time, a large audience became aware of the potential of AI. Suddenly, Altman found himself being compared to entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk.
Altman studied computer science at Stanford University. Like many other innovators in Silicon Valley, dropped out to focus on starting his company. At the age of 19, he co-founded Loopt, Inc., a social network that allowed users to share their location and get recommendations for nearby places. Although Loopt, Inc. ultimately failed, Altman made a breakthrough. From 2014 to 2019, he was president of Y Combinator, a startup incubator that financially supports and promotes start-ups.
"Too much recognition for OpenAI”
Altman is considered a technology visionary and has shared his views on innovation, AI, and the future of technology in various forums and platforms. Altman, often seated beside heads of state and political figures, remarked, "I get too much credit for OpenAI"; he believes that software developers and IT engineers are the real individuals responsible for the company's success.
Like a rock star, Altman traveled the world to present his programs. Wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, and sports shoes, the tech innovator explained how he wanted to change humanity. Altman emphasized his transhumanist stance: humans and technology should soon become one.
Sam Altman warns: AI could wipe out humanity. At the same time, the American also cautions about the risks of AI. In May, he signed a letter with other leading AI experts warning of the possible 'extinction of humanity' by AI. Reducing risks should be a global priority.
On November 17th, OpenAI surprisingly announced that Altman and the company were parting ways. The board of directors determined that it was not 'consistently open' in its communications with the board, thereby hindering its ability to carry out its responsibilities - Official statement from Openai.
The OpenAI management rowed back, but it may have been too late. Altman is now entering a technological power struggle with Microsoft, a significant investor in OpenAI, with money playing a key role.
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