Why Sam Altman Was Sacked - Ex OpenAI Board Member

Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner has revealed why the board fired and rehired OPenAI's CEO, Sam Altman in November. 

In a revealing interview on "The Ted AI Show" podcast aired Tuesday, Toner said the board first learned about ChatGPT's existence through Twitter, describing him as a manipulative leader who fostered a "toxic atmosphere."

Toner highlighted that one key reason for Altman's ousting was reports from two OpenAI executives who accused him of "psychological abuse." She detailed, "They were really serious, to the point where they actually sent us screenshots and documentation of some of the instances they were telling us about..."

Altman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, OpenAI referred to a statement by current board chair Bret Taylor, who mentioned that a review had been conducted into the events of last November. Taylor's statement, quoted on the podcast, said,

"We are disappointed that Miss Toner continues to revisit these issues...The review concluded that the prior board's decision was not based on concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development, OpenAI's finances, or its statements to investors, customers, or business partners."

Altman made a triumphant return to OpenAI just four days after his firing, following a near mass exodus threat from almost all of OpenAI's 700 employees unless the board stepped down and reinstated him.

On the podcast, Toner attributed Altman's swift return to the employees being told that the company would collapse without him. She also noted that once a potential return seemed likely, employees feared retaliation from Altman if they did not support him.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI made waves in the generative artificial intelligence sector when it launched the viral ChatGPT chatbot in 2022, sparking widespread interest and innovation in the field.