Microsoft, Unlikely to be Offered a Board Seat in OpenAI

OpenAI's newest board of directors will reportedly not include some of its most prominent investors, including Microsoft, who has pledged millions into the AI giant, as per a Reuters report citing a person familiar with the matter as the source.

Following Sam Altman's return to OpenAI, after an abrupt and short-lived farewell to the ChatGPT owner, a new board will be reinstated, but reports indicate that neither Microsoft, Khosla, Ventures, Sequoia Capital nor Thrive Capital will be offered a seat.

The Information reports, however, that "things could change" and that the new board has yet to be official. Still, expectations remain that representatives from outside investors are not expected to be on OpenAI's redesigned board of directors. Indicating that investor gains will not take precedence over safety procedures for the board.

These investors were caught off guard when the firm fired Altman on November 17, which raised concerns over the startup's future amidst a surge in artificial intelligence.

OpenAI's New Board

Altman returned to work six days ago after a series of dramatic moves involving Microsoft and other supporters. However, he did not reclaim his previous board position as part of a compromise agreement.

According to the story, confirmation of the three initial directors of the new board, Chair Bret Taylor, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, should happen as early as this week, with the only director standing from the previous six-person board that dismissed Altman being D'Angelo.

Reuters reports that a Microsoft representative stated that the ChatGPT investor "will wait until the board officially says something."

Sam Altman's Firing

Altman was first fired from being OpenAI's CEO due to allegations of "less-than-candid communications," as per Business Insider. Still, a clear and concrete reason remains to be given, considering more than one explanation was reportedly given to OpenAI's employees.

According to Business Insider's source, one explanation was that Altman allegedly handed the same project to two individuals at OpenAI. The other was that Altman allegedly expressed contrasting views of a staff member to two board members.

The report stated that the staff received these explanations and that it did not make sense. The prevailing belief within the corporation was that Altman's firing was a simple "coup" by the board, as it has been referred to both outside and inside.

A few hours after that meeting, the OpenAI leadership, including Murati and Sutskever, wrote and disseminated an open letter protesting the board's decision not to invite Altman back, which was distributed among staff members overnight. Based on the most recent tally, more than 90% of the staff had signed it by Monday, as reported by Tech Times.

Employees threatened to quit in the letter under three conditions if Altman was not brought back to the firm if new board members were not chosen, and if the current board members did not resign.