The surprise departure of OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman this past Friday sparked a heated debate among board members, leading to a push from prominent investors for Altman’s restoration as CEO.
Despite Altman’s unexpected dismissal from the CEO role, major investors with a combined $10 billion in ownership, including Microsoft Corp., Thrive Capital, and Tiger Global Management, are allegedly actively campaigning for Altman’s return. This united front from significant investors demonstrates their strong support for Altman’s leadership.
In addition to Altman’s reinstatement, there are conversations about a possible board restructuring. While no decisions have been made, discussions have included the introduction of additional board members.
Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce Inc., is one significant figure that has emerged in these debates.
The abrupt decision by OpenAI’s board to remove Altman from his post caught both Altman and the investors off guard.
Altman was instrumental in transitioning OpenAI from a non-profit to a successful corporation, enabling advancements in tools that have transformed a variety of industries.
The effects of Altman’s resignation extended beyond OpenAI, affecting the value of the WLD token associated with the Worldcoin project.
However, in reaction to the demand for Altman’s reinstatement, the WLD token has increased by over 20% in the preceding 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data.
In the midst of continuous conversations and calls for change, Mira Murati, formerly the chief technology officer, has taken on the job of interim CEO.
The situation at OpenAI remains fluid, with investors and stakeholders keeping a careful eye on how events unfold in the next days.
