OpenAI Board Appoints Emmett Shear as Interim CEO Amid Failed Reinstatement Efforts for Altman

Update: Just before midnight, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, has been appointed as the interim CEO of OpenAI. This follows the exit of Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and other colleagues, who will join Microsoft to lead a new AI research initiative.

The turmoil surrounding Altman’s dismissal as CEO of OpenAI on Friday, orchestrated by four of the six members on the nonprofit board, took another turn on Sunday night when they voted to install Shear as interim CEO, as reported by The Information.

Shear succeeds Mira Murati, who was promoted from OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer to interim CEO on Friday while the board commenced its search for a permanent replacement.

In the 72 hours since, Murati reportedly aligned with Altman and his supporters, including investors like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, in a failed attempt to restore Altman to his position.

Just days prior, Shear expressed on X (formerly Twitter) his opinion that many CEO responsibilities could be automated with AI.

Altman's demands for reinstatement reportedly included the board's resignation and a formal acknowledgment of his innocence regarding allegations of "not consistently candid" communications, which the board claimed hampered its oversight. They stated they no longer had confidence in his ability to lead OpenAI.

To date, the board has not clarified what specifics prompted their concerns about Altman's transparency or the sudden nature of his termination.

Currently, OpenAI’s board comprises Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI's Chief Scientist and alleged ringleader of the coup; Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo; technology entrepreneur Tasha McCauley; and Helen Toner from the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

They previously included Altman and former OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who was simultaneously removed from his chairman position and resigned in protest.

Despite Murati, Nadella, and other OpenAI stakeholders advocating for Altman’s return and inviting him back for negotiations, the board has reportedly pursued new candidates for the CEO role.

Reports indicate that board members reached out to at least two notable tech executives for the position, showing a clear division among board members who remain committed to distancing themselves from Altman’s leadership despite mounting pressure from key supporters and employees to reverse his dismissal.