In a surprising turn of events, artificial intelligence research company OpenAI has reinstated Sam Altman as its CEO just days after the board voted to remove him from the position.
Altman’s abrupt firing last Friday had shaken up the AI community as he had been the high-profile CEO of OpenAI since its launch in 2015. However, the board did not offer any reasons behind its decision to part ways with Altman at that time.
Now in an unexpected reversal, OpenAI’s board has had a change of heart and voted to bring back Altman to lead the San Francisco-based startup once again.
“After further deliberation over the weekend, the OpenAI board has realized the importance of continuity in our leadership during this critical juncture,” said board member Peter Thiel. “Sam’s vision has been integral to steering our company’s direction since day one, and we believe it is in OpenAI’s best interests to stay the course with Sam at the helm as CEO.”
While the board has made its final decision, there is still speculation about what prompted Altman’s initial ouster and his quick reinstatement. Some sources close to the company said disagreements over monetization strategies could have played a role.
There are also rumors that pressure from key investors and employees to keep Altman may have influenced the board ultimately. OpenAI counts Microsoft among its top backers, and the tech giant recently plowed $10 billion into the startup.
Nonetheless, for now it seems OpenAI will continue forging ahead in AI safety research and development with Altman setting the agenda once again. His abrupt firing and rehiring all within a week has been one of the most puzzling episodes in the world of technology.
