OpenAI Board Renegotiates Altman’s Return... MS Proposes "Same Compensation" for Employees (Summary)

The OpenAI board, which ousted Sam Altman, the 'father of ChatGPT,' has entered negotiations about the possibility of Altman's return, marking a new phase in the ongoing situation. As most OpenAI employees have threatened to resign en masse, shaking the very foundation of the company, the board has become desperate for his comeback. Meanwhile, Microsoft (MS), which announced Altman's joining the day before, has offered to provide the same compensation to OpenAI employees loyal to Altman as before.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Local media outlets such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 21st (local time), citing sources familiar with the matter, that discussions are actively underway between Altman and board members including Adam D'Angelo. This comes just one day after more than 700 of the 770 OpenAI employees demanded the resignation of the entire board and Altman's reinstatement, threatening to resign.

The scenario currently under discussion involves Altman's return to the company and his appointment as an interim director during the replacement of the current board. Multiple sources also reported that Brett Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce, could join the new board. A source evaluated, "The fact that the board and Altman are communicating is a significant development," adding, "Until the day before, the board had almost refused to engage in dialogue with Altman, who was dismissed on the 17th."

Among OpenAI investors, second-largest shareholders Strive Capital, Coelius Ventures, and Tiger Global Management are reportedly strongly pushing for Altman's return. Major investors have even mentioned lawsuits and investment withdrawals. One source told Bloomberg that even Emmett Shear, newly appointed interim CEO, had not been clearly informed of the reasons for Altman's dismissal and stated that if this situation continues, he has no plans to remain at OpenAI.

Another source told WP, "This discussion is less about specific board members and more about creating a stable and benevolent board." There are also reports that Altman will only return if the board members who ousted him leave. The OpenAI board that previously dismissed Altman consists of four members: Ilya Sutskever, Chief Scientist; Adam D'Angelo, CEO of Quora; tech entrepreneur Tasha McCauley; and Helen Toner, Director of Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology. However, Sutskever added his name to a petition demanding the board's resignation and Altman's reinstatement, expressing deep regret for participating in the board's actions the day before.

As the possibility of Altman's return to OpenAI resurfaces, an offer to persuade OpenAI employees from MS senior management was also revealed. Kevin Scott, MS Chief Technology Officer (CTO), posted on his social media account X (formerly Twitter) that day, saying, "We have seen your petition and appreciate your desire to work with Altman at MS's new AI research lab," and added, "Please know that MS can play a role in matching your compensation and advancing our shared mission if needed."

MS, which recruited Altman, publicly confirmed that it can employ OpenAI staff loyal to Altman at compensation levels equivalent to before. CNBC evaluated Scott's post by saying, "The future of OpenAI remains uncertain, and it is unclear where Altman will work," but noted that the post "provides some clarity regarding the employees MS might hire and the scale of compensation."

Altman's whereabouts remain uncertain. Satya Nadella, MS CEO, who had earlier announced Altman's joining, later stated in a foreign media interview that he is "open to both options: staying at OpenAI or coming to MS." WP reported, "Altman's dramatic ousting and potential move to MS are not yet confirmed," adding, "The Silicon Valley boardroom drama is dragging on." OpenAI employees who threatened to resign demanding Altman's reinstatement are reportedly continuing their work as usual while awaiting updates, according to the media outlet.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.