After a dramatic board meeting on Friday, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, two top executives at OpenAI, are in talks with board members about returning to the artificial intelligence start-up, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The discussions come after Mr. Altman was ousted from his role as OpenAI’s chief executive, triggering an outcry and pressure from investors and supporters to bring him back.
Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, is reportedly leading the campaign to reinstate Mr. Altman, with other investors expressing willingness to invest if he were to start a new company. This comes after Mr. Altman began discussing the possibility of starting a new company almost immediately after his departure from OpenAI.
The ouster of Mr. Altman, who is well-known in the tech industry due to his leadership at Y Combinator, has caused waves across the industry. OpenAI, backed by powerful investors including Microsoft, Thrive Capital, and Sequoia Capital, is controlled by a nonprofit with a unique structure that gives investors no official say in its operations. However, investor support remains critical for the company’s future fundraising efforts.
OpenAI, Microsoft, and Thrive Capital have declined to comment on the situation. The developments in this story are ongoing, and updates are expected.
