WilmerHale, an esteemed U.S. law firm, is finalizing an in-depth review of Sam Altman, the former chief executive of OpenAI, who was ousted from the artificial intelligence start-up late last year, according to sources.
The investigation, once completed, may shed light on the events surrounding Mr. Altman’s dismissal by OpenAI’s former board of directors on Nov. 17, only to reinstate him five days later. With a valuation exceeding $80 billion, OpenAI has been at the forefront of A.I. development, influencing the course of this transformative technology.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Mr. Altman, 38, has mentioned that the investigation is nearing its conclusion. The findings are expected to be presented to OpenAI’s board in the early part of next month, the sources added, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality agreements.
OpenAI and WilmerHale have not provided comments on the matter.
Over the past three months, investigators have been interviewing OpenAI employees and executives following the board’s loss of confidence in Mr. Altman’s leadership capabilities. The board cited Mr. Altman’s lack of consistent communication but did not specify further details.
Internally, concerns arose within the board regarding Mr. Altman’s undisclosed plans to secure funding from Middle Eastern investors for an A.I. chip project, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Following his removal, Mr. Altman engaged in a contentious battle with some OpenAI directors to reclaim his position as chief executive. While successful, he had to make concessions, including agreeing to an external investigation into his ousting and forfeiting his board seat. Nevertheless, he orchestrated changes within the board, ousting two members and appointing two new ones.
The leadership turmoil at OpenAI posed a significant risk to potential returns for investors like Microsoft and employees alike. Since Mr. Altman’s reinstatement, efforts have been made to address any internal discord discreetly to safeguard the company’s prospects.
OpenAI is a pioneer in generative A.I., capable of producing text, sounds, and images from minimal prompts. Alongside other companies, it aims to develop artificial general intelligence, a form of A.I. that can mimic human cognitive abilities.
Tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft are also in the race to advance A.G.I. technology. These firms anticipate that A.G.I. will revolutionize the computing sector, as well as the global economy and workforce.
