OpenAI, Sam Altman and shenanigans

"Sam Altman returning to OpenAI after a day being unemployed is like Steve Jobs returning to Apple after 12 years, but for the TikTok generation"

The tech industry and commentators are seeing in the last days whats seems to be the biggest drama in tech scene since Steve Jobs was outed by Apple's Board.

OpenAI fired CEO Sam Altman after losing confidence in his leadership with cofounder Greg Brockman later resigning.

However, Sam Altman, is already in talks about potentially rejoining the company. This possibility has emerged following strong support from OpenAI employees and pressure from key investors on the board to reconsider their earlier decision. If Altman returns, it would mean significant changes for the company, including a reshuffling of the board members.

In a notable event on Saturday, a large group of people, comprising OpenAI staff and others, were seen leaving Altman's luxurious $27 million home in San Francisco. They had gathered there to discuss the company's direction and Altman's circumstances.

Inside the company, employees have shown solid support for Altman, while investors are conducting negotiations to facilitate his comeback. Investment groups like Tiger Global are advocating for Altman's reinstatement. Sequoia Capital, another influential investor, is also in discussions with Altman about his potential return and is encouraging Microsoft, a major supporter of OpenAI, to play a role in this.

Investors and Friends

Microsoft, which has invested heavily in OpenAI, is seen as a key player in these discussions. However, their stance on this matter remains unclear. OpenAI's investor circle also includes notable names like Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Andreessen Horowitz. Sequoia, while not part of the collective effort to bring Altman back, is open to supporting him in any new ventures he may pursue.

Altman's sudden dismissal last Friday 17th November 2023, came as a shock, especially since it was accompanied by claims from the board about a lack of transparency. The decision led to significant internal unrest and the departure of several top executives from OpenAI.

Following his departure, Altman was quick to start conversations about a new AI-related project, with the involvement of other former OpenAI executives. Nevertheless, by Saturday night, there were indications that efforts were underway to negotiate his return to OpenAI, buoyed by strong support from employees both online and in person.

Altman himself expressed his affection for the OpenAI team on a social media platform, a sentiment shared by other team members.

OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, communicated to staff that there was optimism about bringing Altman and other departed colleagues back to the fold.

Other venture capital firms, including Thrive, are also engaged in discussions regarding Altman's potential reinstatement. Sequoia, though not part of the recent tender offer, had previously participated in funding rounds that significantly valued OpenAI.

One of OpenAI's early investors, Vinod Khosla, publicly expressed support for Altman, indicating his firm's backing for Altman's return to OpenAI or support for his future endeavors.

For Altman to rejoin OpenAI, changes to the board would be necessary. The current board comprises several prominent figures, including OpenAI's co-founder and chief research scientist Ilya Sutskever and others from diverse tech backgrounds.

This situation reflects the dynamic and sometimes tumultuous nature of the tech industry, where leadership changes and investor dynamics can significantly impact a company's direction and strategy.

If chaos is a ladder, this is Google's chance to catch up.