Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member, explained the reasons behind Sam Altman's firing in an interview on The TED AI Show podcast. Toner stated that the board lost trust in Altman due to his "outright lying," which made it impossible to trust him as CEO.
Key Reasons for Firing
- Lack of Transparency: Altman failed to inform the board about his ownership of the OpenAI Startup Fund and provided inaccurate information about the company’s safety processes.
- Personal Targeting: Toner claimed Altman lied to other board members to push her off the board after she published a research paper that angered him.
- Toxic Atmosphere: Executives described a toxic work environment, accusing Altman of "psychological abuse" and manipulative behavior.
- Lack of Oversight: The board was not informed in advance about the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 and learned about it through Twitter.
Aftermath and Altman's Return
Following Altman's firing, OpenAI went through several interim CEOs. Employees, including some board members, pushed for Altman's return, supported by OpenAI’s lead investor, Microsoft. Toner cited three reasons for the strong pressure to restore Altman:
- Employees were presented with only two options: restore Altman or see the company destroyed.
- Fear of retaliation from Altman.
- Altman's problematic track record, including being fired from Y Combinator and previous issues at his startup Loopt.
Response from Current Board Chair
Bret Taylor, the current OpenAI board chair, expressed disappointment in Toner's revisiting of these issues. He noted that an independent review concluded the prior board's decision was not based on concerns about product safety, security, development pace, finances, or statements to stakeholders. Over 95% of employees, including senior leadership, asked for Altman's reinstatement and the resignation of the prior board. Taylor emphasized the focus on moving forward with OpenAI's mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity.
