Ultimate Twist: Ultraman Returns to OpenAI - A Complete Recap of 100 Hours of Thrilling Drama!

On November 21, OpenAI announced a key agreement for Sam Altman's return as CEO and revealed a new board of directors featuring Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. The company expressed gratitude for the patience shown during this transition and emphasized ongoing discussions to finalize details.

The restructured board retains only Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora, while welcoming Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary. In response, Altman expressed his deep commitment to OpenAI, stating that recent decisions aimed to realign the team with its mission. He remarked, "Joining Microsoft was the best decision for both me and the team. With support from the new board and Satya Nadella, I look forward to rejoining OpenAI and enhancing our partnership with Microsoft."

OpenAI co-founder and former president Greg Brockman celebrated the announcement, saying, “Today marks an incredible advancement for us—we will emerge stronger and more united than ever.” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also expressed optimism about the new board, viewing it as an essential step toward enhancing stability in governance. Emmett Shear, OpenAI’s interim CEO, shared his satisfaction with the outcome following days of intense discussions.

This resolution concludes more than five days of internal conflict at OpenAI, culminating in Altman's reinstatement. Below is a timeline of significant events leading to this resolution:

Key Figures:

- Sam Altman, OpenAI co-founder and former CEO

- Greg Brockman, OpenAI co-founder and former president

- Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI co-founder and chief scientist

- Mira Murati, OpenAI CTO

- Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO

- Emmett Shear, interim CEO at OpenAI

Timeline of Events:

- November 16: Sutskever informs Altman of an upcoming meeting.

- November 17: Altman is publicly dismissed; Brockman resigns, leading to significant staff exits.

- November 18: Investors, including Microsoft, press the board to reinstate Altman, leading to a principle agreement to reconsider.

- November 19: Altman joins Microsoft as Nadella announces a new AI research team, inviting OpenAI staff to participate.

- November 20: A letter signed by nearly 500 OpenAI employees threatens resignation unless the board resigns and Altman is reinstated.

- November 21: Altman negotiates with Shear, resulting in the announcement of his return as CEO with a new board.

Internal Conflicts:

This turmoil stemmed from tensions between Altman and board member Helen Toner, who advocated for safety practices introduced by OpenAI competitor Anthropic, which Altman argued undermined the company's interests.

OpenAI's announcement solidifies Altman's position as CEO and introduces the newly formed board, stating, "We are working together to finalize the details. Thank you for your patience during this time."