Sam Altman, who was abruptly fired as CEO of OpenAI last week, has been reinstated to the position following a tumultuous battle with the company’s board. Now back at helm, he has consented to an internal investigation into alleged conduct that led to his removal.
Altman’s new ‘agreement’
Citing a person with knowledge of the situation, The Information reported that the executive also agreed to a new three-person board.
“As part of a compromise deal to return to OpenAI, neither Altman nor former OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who also departed Friday, will reclaim their seats on the company’s board,” the report cited the person as saying.
The previous board’s decision to oust Altman last Friday was met with widespread backlash from employees, many of whom threatened to resign if he was not reinstated. Altman and his team subsequently engaged in negotiations with the board, ultimately reaching a compromise that allows him to return as CEO while also addressing the board’s concerns.
Three-member board
The new three-member board will include Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, who was part of the old board that ousted Altman. The new board will be chaired by Bret Taylor, a former co-CEO of Salesforce, and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will serve as the third director.
While the exact nature of the allegations against Altman remains unclear, the board has stated that he lacked “consistent candor” in his communications with them. The internal investigation is expected to shed light on these allegations and determine whether any further action is necessary.
The report also said that Altman and his team had pushed for more control, including the removal of the entire board that had booted the leader.