A timeline of Sam Altman’s departure from OpenAI and its repercussions

In a sudden turn of events, Sam Altman, the ex-president of Y Combinator, was dismissed as CEO of AI startup OpenAI, which led to a series of resignations and an ongoing fallout.

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This rapidly evolving situation is still unfolding. More details are expected to emerge as time progresses. To help keep track of the developments, we have compiled a timeline to provide clarity on the sequence of events.

Timeline of Sam Altman’s departure from OpenAI

November 29

Microsoft gains a board observer

OpenAI announced that Microsoft will have representation on the new initial board of directors through a non-voting observer. The identity of the observer was not immediately disclosed but they will not have an official vote in board matters.

November 21

Agreement reached for Altman’s return as CEO

OpenAI revealed an agreement in principle with Sam Altman for his return as CEO. The new “initial” board would include Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.

We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.

We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 22, 2023

Altman also posted about the new deal, providing insight into the situation since his dismissal. His decision to join Microsoft was deemed the best path, and the new board’s composition and support from Microsoft seemed to have influenced his return to OpenAI.

Discussions with Altman for CEO role

Bloomberg reported talks between OpenAI’s board and Sam Altman for his potential return as CEO. Discussions involved Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, a current member of the OpenAI board, and possibly other board members.

Board tensions lead to fallout

The New York Times reported that Sam Altman’s attempt to remove board member Helen Toner contributed to the current situation at OpenAI, along with other issues. Negotiations to reinstate Altman as CEO were ongoing, with a major point of contention being “guardrails” to improve Altman’s communication with the board.

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November 20

Altman joins Microsoft

Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and colleagues announced their move to Microsoft to lead a new AI research team, with the possibility for other OpenAI staff to join. Nadella left the door open for their transition, assuring the necessary resources would be provided.

Sutskever’s apology

Sutskever expressed regret for his involvement in the board’s actions and pledged to do everything possible to reinstate Altman as CEO.

I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions. I never intended to harm OpenAI. I love everything we’ve built together and I will do everything I can to reunite the company.

— Ilya Sutskever (@ilyasut) November 20, 2023

Employee dissent

Nearly 500 of OpenAI’s approximately 770 employees, including Sutskever, threatened resignation unless the board resigned and reinstated Altman. The number of dissenting employees later surpassed 650.

Potential return to OpenAI

As reported by The Verge, Altman’s move to Microsoft was not finalized, leaving the possibility of his and Brockman’s return to OpenAI if the remaining board members who ousted them step aside.

Merger considerations

OpenAI’s board approached Dario Amodei of rival company Anthropic for a potential merger, as part of efforts to persuade Amodei to replace Altman as CEO. However, Amodei declined the offer.

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November 19

Altman to meet at OpenAI HQ

Altman was expected to meet at OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters as executives pushed for his reinstatement as CEO. Brockman was invited to join, although his response was unclear.

Board negotiations stall

Bloomberg reported resistance from some directors to reinstate Altman, while Lightcap and Murati, among others, were pushing for the reinstatement. The board had not resigned by midday Sunday due to concerns about potential replacements, with the possibility of Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor joining the board.

Leadership transition

Amid the search for a new permanent CEO, OpenAI appointed Emmett Shear as interim CEO, replacing Murati, as reported by The Information.

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November 18

Board dismisses Altman

An internal memo stated that Sam Altman would not return as CEO. The search for a new CEO was ongoing, and Emmett Shear, the co-founder of Twitch, was appointed as interim CEO, replacing Murati.

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Continued developments

This timeline outlines the sequence of events surrounding Sam Altman’s departure from OpenAI and the subsequent developments. The situation remains fluid as new developments continue to unfold. Stay tuned for further updates.

An obtained document revealed that OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap was taken aback by the recent announcement of Sam Altman’s dismissal and expressed that the decision came as a surprise to the management team. Lightcap emphasized that the decision was not related to any misconduct, financial issues, or security concerns but rather resulted from a breakdown in communication between Altman and the board. He assured the team that efforts were being made to address the situation and pledged to provide updates as they become available.

OpenAI’s planned employee share sale, which would have valued the startup at approximately $86 billion, is now in question. Reports suggest that the sale may not proceed or could potentially be downsized due to the recent developments.

Meanwhile, Altman is reportedly planning to launch a new venture, with former OpenAI employee, Brockman expected to be involved. Additionally, there are indications that investors are advocating for Altman’s reinstatement, with Microsoft’s involvement being suggested.

The board of OpenAI has reportedly agreed in principle to allow Altman and Brockman to return, although the deadline for this decision has passed. These developments come after Brockman was demoted and Altman’s firing was publicly announced on the company’s blog.

In response, Altman and Brockman have both taken to social media to express their thoughts, while various senior OpenAI researchers have also resigned. It’s also been revealed that Sutskever, the chief scientist at OpenAI, attempted to schedule a call with Altman prior to the upheaval, and interim CEO Mira Murati was allegedly made aware of Altman’s firing in advance.

The fallout from these events has implications for the future of OpenAI and its leadership, as well as its relationships with investors and partners, such as Microsoft.