OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has unexpectedly resigned from his position, as well as from the company’s board of directors, with immediate effect. In a surprising move, the board announced on Friday that Altman’s departure follows an internal review, which revealed a lack of consistent communication and transparency on his part. This hindrance ultimately undermined the board’s ability to carry out its responsibilities, leading to their loss of confidence in Altman’s leadership abilities.
Expressing gratitude for Altman’s significant contributions to OpenAI’s establishment and growth, the board has appointed Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer, as the interim CEO. Murati’s extensive expertise in overseeing the company’s research, product, and safety functions makes her exceptionally qualified to lead OpenAI during this transitional period, according to the board.
OpenAI’s board of directors comprises Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and Chairman and President Greg Brockman. The board also includes independent advisors who do not hold equity in the company, namely Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, tech entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and privacy advocate Helen Toner from the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Notably, Altman, despite being the former CEO, was also considered an independent advisor on the board.
In addition to Altman and Murati, Greg Brockman will step down from his role as board president but will continue working at OpenAI, reporting to the new CEO.
Please note that this is an ongoing story, and updates will be provided as they become available.
