Sam Altman, OpenAI restart negotiations for his return as CEO

Sam Altman the ousted CEO of OpenAI, members of the OpenAI board, and the current interim CEO, Emmett Shear, have restarted their discussions for a possible reinstatement at the AI studio, as per a report by Bloomberg.

As per the report, sources, requesting anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions, reveal that negotiations are currently taking place between Altman, CEO Emmett Shear, and at least one board member, Adam D’Angelo. The discussions also involve key investors of OpenAI. Most people attending the meeting are advocating for the reinstatement of Altman.

According to one insider, if Altman were to return, it would likely be in the capacity of the CEO. Another scenario being considered involves Altman becoming a director on a transitional board. Additionally, discussions include the potential appointment of former Salesforce Inc. co-CEO Bret Taylor as a director on the new board.

The fact that the board and Altman are now in communication marks a significant development, especially considering the prior reluctance of the directors to engage with Altman of Brockman for that matter.

Among the shareholders pushing for Altman’s return are prominent names such as Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Tiger Global Management, according to individuals familiar with the matter. The venture capital firm Sequoia Capital is reportedly also backing Altman’s reinstatement.

On Monday, OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs, Anna Makanju, sent a memo to the company’s staff, revealing that the company had been engaged in “intense discussions” with the board, Altman, and Shear to bring about unity within the organization. This communication followed a threat from the majority of employees to resign if Altman’s reinstatement and other demands were not met. About 500 of OpenAI’s 700-strong workforce have indicated that they are likely to follow Altman to his new venture if he is not reinstated.

Efforts are underway to resolve the leadership turmoil at OpenAI before Thanksgiving, with the aim of providing employees with clarity about the state of their jobs during the holiday season, according to an insider.

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