In a major upheaval in the tech industry, Sam Altman, the CEO of artificial intelligence startup Open AI, has been fired by the company’s board of directors. The move, which the company says is a result of Altman not being 'consistently candid', has prompted varied reactions across the sector.
Open AI parts ways with CEO Altman
Sam Altman, the CEO behind AI-powered chatbots ChatGPT and GPT-4, was abruptly let go by Open AI's board of directors. The board expressed their loss of confidence in Altman's capacity to lead the company, citing his inconsistent candidness in communications. While the board expressed gratitude for Altman's contributions, they didn't elaborate on the specific reasons behind his departure.
Mira Murati appointed as Interim CEO
In the wake of Altman's sudden departure, Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati has been appointed as the interim CEO of Open AI. Murati will take up the reins of the $90 billion company until a more permanent replacement can be appointed. This leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the AI giant, which recently made headlines with its ChatGPT and GPT-4 creations.
News of Altman's sudden firing has sparked a flurry of reactions across the tech industry. Former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, hailed Altman as a 'hero' and a game-changer for the collective world. Meanwhile, co-founder of Open AI, Greg Brockman, announced his departure from the company shortly after the news broke, expressing his regret and surprise.
Altman's influence in AI recognized
Despite the sudden departure, Altman's influence in the field of artificial intelligence can't be overlooked. He has been compared to J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, in a profile published by New York Magazine. In addition, Time Magazine named him in its list of the 100 most influential people in AI in 2023, acknowledging his significant contribution to the field.
