Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, was abruptly ousted from the company on November 17, 2023. The move shocked the tech world and sparked a flurry of speculation about the reasons behind Altman's departure. This Google Web Stories series will delve into the timeline of events leading up to Altman's ouster and explore the possible factors that contributed to his removal.
OpenAI held its annual DevDay event on November 6, 2023, showcasing new features for its flagship AI research platform, including a build-your-own ChatGPT feature. The event was well-received by the tech community, and Altman was seen as a confident and visionary leader.
Just days after OpenAI's DevDay, Microsoft abruptly cut off access to ChatGPT for its employees, citing security concerns. The move raised eyebrows, as ChatGPT had been used by Microsoft employees for months without any reported issues.
Further fueling speculation about security issues, OpenAI announced on November 15 that it was freezing signups for new ChatGPT users. The company stated that the freeze was necessary to "improve the quality and safety of the platform," but it offered no further details.
The culmination of these events came on November 17, 2023, when OpenAI's board of directors voted to remove Sam Altman as CEO. The company released a brief statement saying that Altman was being replaced due to a "difference in vision" but provided no further explanation.