After a hectic few days, it looks like it’s all heading back to where it started – Sam Altman is returning to OpenAI as chief executive. The question now is what changes
Microsoft
has secured to improve its control of the artificial-intelligence startup.
OpenAI said early Wednesday that it had reached an agreement in principle for Altman to return as CEO alongside the appointment of a new board of directors, in a post on social-media site X, formerly Twitter. Altman said he was looking forward to returning to the company.
It’s the culmination of a period of chaos after Altman was fired by the previous board, causing the majority of OpenAI’s employees to threaten to resign and leaving its major backer
Microsoft
(ticker: MSFT) scrambling to contain the fallout by offering to hire its staff.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company was encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board.
“We look forward to building on our strong partnership and delivering the value of this next generation of AI to our customers and partners,” Nadella said in a statement.
The company’s new initial board will include Bret Taylor, Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo, meaning the majority of the members involved in removing Altman last Friday won’t be involved. Microsoft is expected to push for a seat on an eventual expanded board of up to nine people, according to The Verge, citing people familiar with the negotiations.
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