The board of directors at OpenAI has stood by its decision to remove former chief executive Sam Altman, according to an internal memo sent to the company’s staff on Sunday. Emmett Shear, a former executive at Twitch, has been named as the new interim chief executive, replacing Mira Murati. The board stated that Shear has the necessary skills, expertise, and relationships to drive OpenAI forward. The memo, signed by each of the four directors on the company’s board, explained that Altman’s behavior and lack of transparency led to the decision to remove him. OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft, was reportedly unaware of Altman’s removal until just before it was announced. The board did not specify the reasons for Altman’s removal, but emphasized the importance of honesty and transparency from the CEO. OpenAI and Mr. Altman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
