Discussion

• @abelian_cat Paul Pantea on threads

  The only reason I don't want Sam Altman to return is because I want Linda Yaccarino to leave X and take over OpenAI.  That would be so much funnier.

• @imdavidpierce David Pierce on threads

  Impressive that only 24 hours after weirdly and brutally firing its CEO, OpenAI is already trying to hire one of the biggest names in AI as his successor

• @cwarzel Charlie Warzel on threads

  One thing in the OpenAI stuff that feels consistent (based on some internal convos I've had) is that a group of people that are *laser focused on the doomer elements of AI and the more abstract principle of AGI for the betterment of humanity* might also be the same people who do …

• @timothybucksf Timothy Buck on threads

  AI stickers in Messenger are fun for the tech group chat 😂

• @timothybucksf Timothy Buck on threads

  Sooooo Sam posts about loving the Open AI team.  There is a massive outpouring of support for Sam from employees quote tweeting and replying with hearts.  The new interim CEO replies with a heart (in solidarity?)  And then the former chairman of the board and president of the com…

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads

  The ad in the replies of Sam Altman's tweet 😂 via @kyurieff

• @ben_woodward Ben Woodward on threads

  VCs who just received signed term sheets from OpenAI calling their CFOs right now: “cancel that transaction... I SAID CANCEL THAT TRANSACTION!!!”

• @wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on threads

  Making ChatGPT self-doubt into searching the news to learn about what happened https://chat.openai.com/...

• @paul_rietschka Paul Rietschka on threads

  So I'm seeing a lot of Altman hagiographies making the rounds.  Can we perhaps stop?  Altman is a competent manager, yes, but that's all he is.  He's not a genius.  He's not an AI researcher, even.  He is, however, someone who managed to position himself very well in the Bay Area…

• @reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads

  We're all assuming this is a super tense boardroom scene but there's an incredibly real chance it's just a bunch of people staring into hazy MacBook webcams on Google Meet

• @davepell Dave Pell on threads

  For the past few years, you've been warned that AI could destroy humanity.  This weekend, you met the team in charge.

• @goldman Jason Goldman on threads

  One can only hope this is a King Ralph situation and in the event of no board and no CEO, some random employee is next in the line of succession to set the course.

• @xanderoconnor Xander O'Connor on threads

  Sure, board members of OpenAI, you *could* rehire Sam Altman but have you considered how cheaply you could probably get Linda Yaccarino right now?

• @lucid_voyager Devan Stormont on threads

  Microsoft threatening to withhold compute credits... Called it. https://www.forbes.com/...

• @eaustinj Austin Johnsen on threads

  Started drafting the HBS case study... “Sam Altman stared in shock at his screen trying to put his thoughts together.  Fifteen minutes ago, he had been at the top of the world, CEO of the world's most promising startup.  However, his friend and cofounder Ilya had just called him …

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads

  The OpenAI board should probably print this out and read it twice.  Their only moat was talent but by pushing out Sam Altman and Greg Brockman who will build a competing company, that most is evaporating.

• @crumbler Casey Newton on threads

  The OpenAI people are insisting on playing out this entire drama on X, where it will serve as training data for Grok

• @dennischiuten Dennis Chiuten on threads

  Shoutout to whatever OpenAI engineers are just keeping their heads down pushing out updates right now

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads

  The major lesson of 2023 is how terrible big tech leaders actually are at running organizations post-boom times of zero interest rates.  From Elon Musk & Steve Huffman going to war with their users to the callous waves of layoffs and pseudo-layoffs (return to office or get fired …

• @ethank Ethan Kaplan on threads

  Somewhere in Redmond Satya Nadella is angrily installing Google Chrome to join a Meet.

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads

  This is quite embarrassing for the board.  Besides an outpouring of support for Sam Altman on Twitter/X, OpenAI's chief strategy officer emailed employees a few hours ago to reassure them that it's highly likely they'll get Sam to return as CEO. …

• @abelian_cat Paul Pantea on threads

  EXCLUSIVE: Leaked photo of Ilya Sutskever planning the ousting of Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI.

• @reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads

  Negotiation by cryptic emo AIM status

• @joshuatopolsky Joshua Topolsky on threads

  Shit show at the fuck factory https://www.theverge.com/...

• @mattturck Matt Turck on threads

  Sam Altman returning to OpenAI after a day is like Steve Jobs returning to Apple after 12 years, but for the TikTok generation

• @alexheath Alex Heath on threads

  Update on the OpenAI drama: Altman and the board had till 5pm to reach a truce where the board would resign and he and Brockman would return.  The deadline has passed and mass resignations expected if a deal isn't reached ASAP @reckless https://www.theverge.com/...

• @gruber John Gruber on threads

  What matters ultimately is who owns the company.  And the board that fired Altman doesn't own the company.  They're a bunch of clowns.

• @notpatrick.com @notpatrick.com on bluesky

  This story is getting even better than the MS / Activision Saga, in a 1000th of the time.  —  “OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO”  —  https://www.theverge.com/...

• @dead.place Flynn on bluesky

  Just clown show levels of stupidity.  Its clear there was no contingency plan and now they're suffering the consequences.  The world's most important AI firm shouldn't be creating this unneccesary bullshit.  [embedded post]

• @epro.social Emil Protalinski on bluesky

  OpenAI's board got bored of GPT-4 and wanted to have some fun before the weekend.  Now they just want this all resolved before Thanksgiving.  If Sam Altman really does return, he's going to stack the board with his allies.  [embedded post]

• @sama Sam Altman on x

  i love the openai team so much

• @marissamayer @marissamayer on x

  But, second and perhaps more importantly, what the @openai mess has really shown is that one of the most tremendous and important technologies/companies of our time is being governed by only 4(!!!) independent directors.

• @marissamayer @marissamayer on x

  OpenAI investors (like @Microsoft) need to step up and demand that the governance weaknesses at @OpenAI be fixed. Yes, they should do right by @sama. But, regardless, decisions around leadership & direction in a technology as important as fire and electricity can't be decided by.…

• @marissamayer @marissamayer on x

  First, I hope that @OpenAI can fix it's mistake and bring @sama back.

• @trungtphan Trung Phan on x

  The OpenAI story keeps getting crazier [image]

• @anissagardizy8 Anissa Gardizy on x

  NEW: Saturday evening, senior OpenAI employees were seen visiting Altman at his San Francisco home. One of them appeared to be Anna Mankanju, head of global affairs. OpenAI ‘Optimistic’ It Can Bring Back Sam Altman, Greg Brockman: https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @autismcapital @autismcapital on x

  [image]

• @anothercohen Alex Cohen on x

  OpenAI board definitely just sent this text to Sam [image]

• @adamgluck Adam Gluck on x

  sam getting ousted by the non-profit portion of openai after building the fastest growing company of the last decade feels like the plot of an ayn rand novel

• @swiftonsecurity @swiftonsecurity on x

  Satya yelling is probably the most terrifying thing I can imagine. It's always those soft-spoken mf who curse your name into the pits of hell.

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Funny. Even funnier (and since I've called every step of this, you might want to write it down), this time @Microsoft will get a board seat.

• @anothercohen Alex Cohen on x

  There's only one way Ilya recovers from this [video]

• @paulg Paul Graham on x

  No one in the world is better than Sam at dealing with this kind of situation. [image]

• @deadcaitbounce Caitlin Cook on x

  [image]

• @thogge Tyler Hogge on x

  Be the type of leader that causes an employee revolt if you get fired.

• @davidsacks David Sacks on x

  Silicon Valley finally understands how red states felt when Tucker got fired.

• @danielmerja @danielmerja on x

  Exclusive: Footage of Sam Altman returning to OpenAI as CEO [video]

• @autismcapital @autismcapital on x

  Imagine the level of beta cowardice you have to have to be a no skilled board member, fire the CEO of your company and literally be lynched by the entire collective tech world, including one of the most powerful companies on earth, Microsoft, then immediately backpedal and beg...

• @krishnanrohit Rohit on x

  Ragnarok [image]

• @tunguz Bojan Tunguz on x

  I want to be the OpenAI employee who turns his cell phone off at noon Friday for his weekend trip to a Tahoe log cabin and turns it back on Monday morning.

• @netcapgirl Sophie on x

  it appears your azure credits aren't quite as cashed as you thought, mr. bond [image]

• @luke_metro @luke_metro on x

  Ilya ... we have lost the official corporate accounts [image]

• @0xkarmatic Karma on x

  Sama walks in. Sama: Folks, I think we made a blunder by making OpenAI a non-profit. This is some trillion dollar company here. How do we get out of this and get some $$$? Ilya: I will fake fire you and convince the other board members too. Then you come back using investor...

• @willmanidis Will Manidis on x

  insane that if Sam returns, he gains: 1. Total full for profit structure (non profit is too dangerous after this) 2. totally aligned board / no legacy EA baggage 3. Organization free of weirdo doomers imagine trying to destroy someone and instead giving them complete power

• @erenbali Eren Bali on x

  . @sama on Friday @sama on Monday [image]

• @mattturck Matt Turck on x

  Sam Altman returning to OpenAI after a day is like Steve Jobs returning to Apple after 12 years, but for the TikTok generation

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  A number of OpenAI employees are already quote tweeting Sam Altman to express support, almost at once. My serious read: this is a public rallying cry / show of strength that staff are behind Sam to the board. Also not something you'd maybe do if close to an agreement. [image]

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  The only possible recovery of this situation would be reinstating Sam and Greg, and a wholesale board change. 10,000's of startups and many more developers would prefer to see this outcome.

• @tomgara Tom Gara on x

  The actual answer to this question is that her effective altruist group put $30 million into OpenAI in 2017 and got a board seat which they've has ever since

• @ryxcommar @ryxcommar on x

  reinforcement learning from human feedback

• @fchollet François Chollet on x

  OpenAI is pivoting to the mass entertainment business.

• @teddyschleifer Teddy Schleifer on x

  Thinking about this quote that @SamA gave me the other year about ... boardroom coups. https://www.vox.com/... [image]

• @teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x

  Anyway, he's gonna be INSUFFERABLE if they bring him back. He already has this weird AI Christ martyrdom thing going on... it's gonna get much worse

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  @Jessicalessin not sure they need to be mutually exclusive nor rule out Microsoft pressure as well

• @samidhas @samidhas on x

  Such a great take on The Death of Julius Caesar by Vincenzo Camuccini depicting the assassination of Julius Caesar, props to the ET design team! [image]

• @jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x

  I think everyone should be very careful saying that it is the investors who got the OpenAI board to consider reinstating. I suspect it was the employee exodus, the extent of which is still unknown.

• @evanepstein Evan Epstein on x

  What a turn of events. “Altman, who was suddenly fired by the board on Friday, is ‘ambivalent’ about coming back and would want significant governance changes.” Let me guess: getting rid of all the board members that turned on him? A la Steve Jobs on his return to Apple?

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Busy tonight partying hard with a 2 year old, so I'll just drop this. My assumption is @sama will return only if — and that's a big if — governance is changed and that means MSFT and some other big names on the board and not those EAs who think the plot of Terminator is a thing. …

• @gergelyorosz Gergely Orosz on x

  You can bet what is happening is now that the kids have made an absolute and unnecessary mess (aka the board, acting with less maturity or foresight than anyone expected), the adults are coming up to clean up (aka the investors who don't want to see their investment go to zero).

• @jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x

  @alexrkonrad Yeah. MSFT pissed but based on the dynamic don't think the pressure is significant compared to employees.

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Reusing a Mark Zuckerberg quote: This is a clown car that crashed into a gold mine.

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Also since Altman had no stake since the board as constituted needs a majority disinterested parties, it will shift to the SV mode of no conflict, no interest mode and be tightly tied into the existing power structure, with whom Altman has been edging the company toward. Masa's..…

• @mualphaxi Max Meyer on x

  How did this 2021 “Masters Degree in Deep State Studies” get on the board of the most important company in America? [image]

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  So why even bother to come back if they don't roll as this guy can get a pool full of dough and run it the way he wants to, which is his nature as an SV entrepreneur, even if he's a nicer version (Elon without the assholitude). Sam has choices, obvi. [image]

• @bchesky Brian Chesky on x

  ❤️

• @chrisalbon Chris Albon on x

  That coordinated quote retweet by OpenAI staff was the most impressive employee flex I've seen in tech.

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  the outpouring of support from OpenAI employees in the quotes of this tweet are really quite something. The pressure on the board runs a lot deeper than investors like Microsoft

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  We're so back

• @mattkrisiloff Matt Krisiloff on x

  As an original member of @OpenAI Nonprofit's founding team, I think the rest of the board should resign. Regardless of the details, the way today has been handled is such a disgrace.

• @brian_armstrong Brian Armstrong on x

  This kind of decel thinking is what destroyed value at Google, and OpenAI used to be the antidote to it (now fell to the same forces, if true). EA destroyed a lot of value in crypto, now AI. San Francisco is part of the issue here also. Lots of it traces back to Marxist thinking.…

• @regardthefrost Jim O'Neill on x

  They miscalculated the blowback

• @kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x

  “Hey Ilya, it's Satya. If you want those Azure credits to work on Monday we're going to need Sam back.”

• @therealadamg @therealadamg on x

  @chrisalbon No one coordinating anything. The feeling is just universally mutual and organic. We all adore @sama and @gdb and love what we've built in @openai.

• @danieljlosey Daniel Losey on x

  Respect @TheRealAdamG These quote tweets speak volumes as to the quality of @sama 's leadership. Whether or not you agree with his philosophy regarding AI (I dont), you have to give respect where respect is due. [image]

• @brian_armstrong Brian Armstrong on x

  If this is really some EA, decel, AI safety coup at OpenAI, the board just torched $80B of value, destroyed a shining star of American capitalism, and will be sued to high heaven by investors. Every talented employee at OpenAI should quit and join Sam/Greg's new thing (if they...

• @buccocapital BuccoCapital Guy on x

  [image]

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  The only way forward

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  It makes the old Yahoo board look like geniuses

• @armanddoma Armand Domalewski on x

  Nobody wants to hear this, but basically the entire staff of Open AI publicly demanding Sam Altman be reinstated is a pretty powerful reminder of what workers can achieve when they collectively bargain together ❤️

• @josephpolitano @josephpolitano on x

  Ah, it's just as the economists predicted—for every job AI kills, it creates a new one to replace it.

• r/technews r on reddit

  OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/technology r on reddit

  Sam Altman ‘was working on new venture’ before sacking from OpenAI

• r/slatestarcodex r on reddit

  OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/ChatGPT r on reddit

  OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/singularity r on reddit

  Breaking: OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO - The Verge

• r/wallstreetbets r on reddit

  OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/ChatGPT r on reddit

  OpenAI Investors Trying to Get Sam Altman Back as CEO

• r/aiwars r on reddit

  OpenAI board are in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/neoliberal r on reddit

  OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/Futurology r on reddit

  Breaking: OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• r/OpenAI r on reddit

  Breaking: OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO

• @reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads

  It appears that whatever is going on with OpenAI is done for today.  An explosion of heart emojis from employees in support of Sam Altman appeared on Twitter but nothing is decided yet, from what we can tell.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

• @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social Jeff Jarvis on mastodon

  The Information: “But Altman's return also raises questions about the company's financial motives versus its duty to develop AI responsibly...”  —  Yup.  —  https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @gdb Greg Brockman on x

  💛

• @kevinakwok Kevin Kwok on x

  At this point AI may have more hard fork fights than Bitcoin ever did

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  source tells me the votes aren't there yet for this, but optimistic vibe coming from Altman camp. resolution perhaps tmrw, per @erinkwoo's scoop below. heading to bed. thanks for staying up with me!

• @anissagardizy8 Anissa Gardizy on x

  major scoop from @erinkwoo: OpenAI is “optimistic” it can bring back Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and other key employees who departed in the wake of Altman's sudden firing on Friday more to come tomorrow https://www.theinformation.com/ ... @theinformation

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  Boom: Sam Altman is almost certainly back at OpenAI tomorrow, executive says. https://www.theinformation.com/ ... [image]

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  There are no coincidences [image]

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  When this is all over, OpenAI owes everyone in tech two days of unlimited free tokens to make up for the loss in productivity across the industry this weekend on behalf of the current board.

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  this is the craziest shit ever

• @miramurati Mira Murati on x

  @sama 🩵

• @ashleevance Ashlee Vance on x

  Just sitting here waiting for someone to call and tell me Elon is stepping in as OpenAI CEO to complete the absurdity of the last 36 hours

• @vishvanands Vishvanand Subramanian on threads

  There was definitely some tension between Satya Nadella and Sam Altman at the OpenAI event.  Looks like it boiled over and Sam walks away with 0 OpenAI stock despite spearheading the most influential product launch in a decade.

• @marypcbuk.bsky.social Mary Branscombe on bluesky

  Microsoft has really hitched its wagon to AI but I'd have personally thought the chief scientist mattered more [embedded post]

• @emilychangtv Emily Chang on x

  More from me & @ashleevance - active convos happening to reinstate @sama including w/ Microsoft and @satyanadella - Sam has Satya's support/confidence whatever he does next - in one scenario the board could resign - this is a fast-moving complex negotiation - Sam is open to...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  sounds like Microsoft is putting the pressure on the OpenAI board. Not surprised, they're not happy with what happened. Microsoft is investing billions into OpenAI and any instability in a partner is a big risk for them

• @hblodget Henry Blodget on x

  And the Board coup will now be overturned...

• r/wallstreetbets r on reddit

  OpenAI Board has considered resigning, hasn't made final decision

• @marcbeckman Marc Beckman on x

  Microsoft has a legal fiduciary duty to its shareholders. It makes sense for Satya Nadella and other stakeholders to exert pressure on OpenAI's Board if Microsoft's $10 billion bet is in jeopardy without Sam Altman at the helm.

• @edzitron Ed Zitron on x

  The investors are trying to reinstate Sam Altman through a combination of “hoping people quit” and “hoping Microsoft will pull their investment in OpenAI,” something that would not look good for Microsoft. https://x.com/...

• @katie_roof Katie Roof on x

  Tender offer is in jeopardy, we are hearing. Thrive was expected to lead it but has not wired the money. Firm wants Sam and Greg back.

• @panzer @panzer on x

  Nathan Fielder outdoing himself

• @edzitron Ed Zitron on x

  Seeing people report this as “board discussing altman returning as CEO” vs. what @alexrkonrad is reporting - that the VC firms holding positions at the for-profit version of OpenAI (which the non-profit controls) are trying to strongarm them - all hinges on Microsoft. [image]

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  @edzitron I think Microsoft wants stability, whichever outcome can deliver it most reliably. No stock fluctuations

• @vkhosla Vinod Khosla on x

  To be clear, Khosla Ventrues wants @sama back at @OpenAI but will back him in whatever he does next

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  this is separate and likely concurrent with @verge report that the board is in talks to bring Altman back. developing situation. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @alexrkonrad Alex Konrad on x

  Scoop: investors are scrambling to restore Sam Altman to OpenAI in a shocking return. They lack direct power, but leverage could be used before Altman committed to a new startup, sources tell @Forbes, with Microsoft a key player. By me and @DavidJeans2: https://www.forbes.com/...

• r/OpenAI r on reddit

  Bye Ilya?  🤡👋🏻 OpenAI Investors Plot Last-Minute Push With Microsoft To Reinstate Sam Altman As CEO

• @sama Sam Altman on x

  if i start going off, the openai board should go after me for the full value of my shares

• @daveleebbg Dave Lee on threads

  Is talent the moat that matters?  Or is it compute?  Bit of both? https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @mattturck Matt Turck on x

  Reporting live as VCs amass in front of Sam Altman's house following rumors of new venture [video]

• @kateclarktweets Kate Clark on x

  New: Sam Altman has already spoken to investors about a new venture. No details yet on what it will look like but its expected that OpenAI employees will jump ship and join Altman in whatever he builds next. https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  One thing you should know about @sama is he is arguably the best AI talent recruiter in Silicon Valley

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  🧨Boom goes the dynamite, Sam Altman already discussing new AI co. @KateClarkTweets https://www.theinformation.com/ ... [image]

• r/technology r on reddit

  OpenAI Co-Founder Altman Plans New Venture

• r/singularity r on reddit

  Sam Altman Plans New Venture