According to sources familiar with the matter, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, former top executives at OpenAI, are reportedly in discussions with board members about returning to the artificial intelligence start-up.
Following Mr. Altman’s removal as chief executive, there has been an outcry from OpenAI’s investors and his supporters to bring him back, with Microsoft leading a pressure campaign, and investors expressing support for his reinstatement and willingness to invest in a new company led by him.
However, there is no guarantee that Mr. Altman or Mr. Brockman will be reinstated at OpenAI due to the company’s unique structure, where the board has the power to govern the subsidiary’s activities.
OpenAI, Microsoft, and Thrive Capital declined to comment on the matter. Reports have indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding Mr. Altman potentially returning to the company.
The recent discussions with OpenAI’s board mark the latest development in the fast-moving drama at the high-profile A.I. company, which gained fame for its release of the chatbot ChatGPT last year.
Prior to his removal, tensions had risen at OpenAI, with concerns raised about the potential dangers of the company’s technology and internal disagreements, particularly from Mr. Sutskever, a prominent A.I. researcher.
Mr. Altman’s unexpected firing attracted attention in the tech industry and led to discussions about the formation of a new A.I. company, with several OpenAI employees resigning in response.
Tech investors have expressed their support for Mr. Altman and hinted at backing his next venture, reflecting the impact of the situation across the industry.
While still leading OpenAI, Mr. Altman had been discussing new project ideas, including A.I.-related projects and collaborations with prominent figures in the tech industry.
By Saturday afternoon, it was reported that Mr. Altman and Mr. Brockman were also discussing a potential return to OpenAI.
Karen Weise and Tripp Mickle contributed reporting.
