The OpenAI board is in discussions with Sam Altman to return to the company as its CEO, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. One of them said Altman, who was suddenly fired by the board on Friday with no notice, is “ambivalent” about coming back and would want significant governance changes.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the board initially reached a tentative agreement to resign, allowing Sam Altman and Greg Brockman to return. However, there has been indecision since then, missing a critical 5 PM PT deadline, after which many OpenAI staff members were poised to resign. Should Altman decide to depart and initiate a new venture, it is anticipated that numerous staffers would follow him. The OpenAI board
The fact that Altman is engaged in discussions with the company just a day after his removal suggests a state of turmoil within OpenAI in his absence. Following Altman’s dismissal, Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and former board chairman, promptly resigned. Altman and Brockman have been exploring possibilities of launching another venture, consulting with friends and investors. On Friday, a series of senior researchers also resigned, and insiders suggest that additional departures may be imminent.