Sam Altman returns as OpenAI CEO in dramatic reversal

Sam Altman, who was fired by OpenAI’s board on Friday following disagreements over how fast to develop and monetize AI, had been in negotiations with the company to return.

More than any other figure, Sam Altman, 38, emerged as the face of a new era of artificial intelligence technology, thanks to the viral success of ChatGPT. Pic: REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

OpenAI will bring back Sam Altman and overhaul its board to bring on new directors, a stunning reversal in a drama that’s transfixed Silicon Valley and the global AI industry.

Mr Altman is returning as chief executive officer and the initial board will be led by Bret Taylor, a former co-CEO of Salesforce and director at Twitter before it was acquired by Elon Musk. Other directors include Larry Summers, the US Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton, and existing member Adam D’Angelo, the co-founder and CEO of Quora OpenAI is now working “to figure out the details,” the company said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.