A Timeline of Sam Altman’s Departure from OpenAI and Its Impact
Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, releases a statement affirming commitment to their partnership with OpenAI despite the leadership changes.
According to Merklepal's previous report, in a surprising turn of events on Friday, former Y Combinator president Sam Altman was ousted as the CEO of OpenAI, the company known for AI successes like ChatGPT, GPT-4, and DALL-E 3. This decision was made by OpenAI's board of directors. Subsequently, Greg Brockman, the company's longtime president and co-founder, resigned, along with three senior OpenAI researchers, intensifying the aftermath.
The situation is unfolding rapidly, and we're actively working to gather more information. We've compiled a detailed timeline to help you navigate through these developments.
November 16
- Ilya Sutskever schedules a call with Altman, as revealed in a post by Brockman on X.
- Altman and Brockman express shock and sadness at the board's actions, extending gratitude to their colleagues, customers, and investors.
November 17
-. Brockman receives a text from Sutskever, leading to a call where Brockman is demoted from the board but retains his role as president. Altman's firing is confirmed.
- OpenAI publicly announces Altman's firing, with Altman expressing appreciation for his time at the company.
i loved my time at openai. it was transformative for me personally, and hopefully the world a little bit. most of all i loved working with such talented people.
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 17, 2023
will have more to say about what’s next later.
🫡
November 18
- An all-hands meeting is held, where Sutskever defends Altman's removal, emphasizing its alignment with OpenAI's mission.
- Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, releases a statement affirming commitment to their partnership with OpenAI despite the leadership changes.
- Brockman formally resigns from OpenAI, referencing "today's news" in his announcement.
- Three senior OpenAI researchers, including Jakub Pachocki and Aleksander Madry, resign in the wake of Brockman's departure.
Ongoing
- An internal memo from OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap clarifies that the decision was not due to malfeasance and acknowledges a breakdown in communication between Altman and the board.
- The planned sale of OpenAI employee shares, valuing the company at around $86 billion, may be at risk, according to sources.
- Altman hints at plans for a new venture, with Brockman expected to join the effort.
The fallout from these events is still unfolding, and we'll continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
