Sam Altman, the former CEO of leading artificial intelligence company OpenAI, has made an unexpected visit to the company’s headquarters, according to his post on X (formerly Twitter). Altman shared a photo of himself holding a guest ID pass with the caption, “First and last time I ever wear one of these.”
The 38-year-old Altman played a pivotal role in the launch of OpenAI, which is known for creating the popular ChatGPT bot. However, on Friday, he was abruptly dismissed by the company’s board, which claimed it had lost confidence in his leadership.
Over the weekend, reports emerged suggesting that both investors and employees are advocating for Altman’s reinstatement at OpenAI. Tech news site The Information reported that Altman, along with Greg Brockman, another co-founder who resigned as the company’s president on the same day, were invited to the firm’s San Francisco headquarters for discussions on Sunday.
The BBC has reached out to OpenAI for an official statement on the matter.
Altman is considered one of the most influential figures in the rapidly expanding field of generative AI. His unexpected removal from OpenAI sent shockwaves throughout the AI industry. The company’s board stated that Altman had not been “consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities.” However, the board did not specify the nature of Altman’s alleged lack of candor.
The aftermath of Altman’s dismissal has generated significant global attention and raised concerns that his departure could impact an upcoming $86 billion (£69 billion; €79 billion) share sale. Venture capitalists supporting the firm and tech giant Microsoft, which holds a $10 billion stake in OpenAI and has integrated the company’s technology into its applications, have reportedly called for Altman’s return.
As the situation unfolds, the tech industry is closely watching for developments regarding Sam Altman’s potential reinstatement at OpenAI.