OpenAI board, $MSFT, is in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO after being fired yesterday, per the Verge.

The OpenAI board is currently engaged in discussions with Sam Altman about his potential return as CEO, as per information from multiple sources familiar with the situation. One source mentioned that Altman, who was abruptly dismissed by the board on Friday without prior notice, is feeling "ambivalent" about returning and would require significant governance changes.

The fact that Altman is in talks with the company just a day after his removal suggests that OpenAI is facing a period of instability without his leadership. Following his dismissal, Greg Brockman, OpenAI's president and former board chairman, resigned, and both Altman and Brockman have been exploring the possibility of launching another company. On Friday, several senior researchers also resigned, and insiders suggest that more departures are imminent.

While OpenAI's largest investor, Microsoft, expressed commitment to its partnership in a statement after Altman's firing, other investors were not given prior notice or an opportunity to provide input on the board's decision to remove Altman. As the prominent face of the company and a leading voice in AI, Altman's departure introduces uncertainty about OpenAI's future, especially as competitors strive to match the unparalleled success of ChatGPT.

The existing board of OpenAI comprises OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, former GeoSim Systems CEO Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner, the director of strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Unlike traditional companies, the board's mission is not solely focused on maximizing shareholder value but is committed to ensuring the development of "broadly beneficial" artificial general intelligence (AGI).

According to multiple sources, Sutskever, who co-founded OpenAI and leads its research team, played a significant role in Altman's removal this week.