OpenAI has announced its new board lineup following an internal investigation into the sudden ousting of CEO Sam Altman in November.
In a blog post on Friday, OpenAI condensed the months-long independent probe conducted by the WilmerHale law firm into 418 words and provided no specifics.
According to Business Insider, the law firm has reviewed over 30,000 documents and conducted dozens of interviews with employees and witnesses.
In the blog post, the company said WilmerHale found that the ousting was about the "breakdown in trust" between the prior board and Altman "that precipitated the events of November 17," but the cause of their relationship's rift was not revealed.
OpenAI noted that Altman's firing "did not arise out of concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development, OpenAI's finances, or its statements to investors, customers, or business partners."
"Instead, it was a consequence of a breakdown in the relationship and loss of trust between the prior Board and Mr. Altman," the company added.
Open AI also said that WilmerHale found that the board, without giving "advance notice to key stakeholders," acted "within its broad discretion to terminate Mr. Altman, but also found that his conduct did not mandate removal."
"After reviewing the WilmerHale findings, the Special Committee recommended to the full Board that it endorse the November 21 decision to rehire Mr. Altman and Mr. [Greg] Brockman," the company noted.
Brockman, co-founder and president of OpenAI, quit the firm just hours after the board abruptly fired Altman.
OpenAI Reinstates CEO Sam Altman
The conclusion of the external probe has simply cleared the way for Sam Altman to rejoin the board of directors of OpenAI.
OpenAI also announced on Friday the addition of three distinguished individuals to its board: Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Nicole Seligman, and Fidji Simo. Alongside them, Altman will resume his position on the board.
Bret Taylor, the chair of the OpenAI board, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointments, highlighting the incoming members' diverse backgrounds and extensive leadership experience.
"I am excited to welcome Sue, Nicole, and Fidji to the OpenAI Board of Directors. Their experience and leadership will enable the Board to oversee OpenAI's growth, and to ensure that we pursue OpenAI's mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity," Taylor said in a separate blog post.
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New Members to the Board of Directors of OpenAI
Desmond-Hellmann, a renowned physician and non-profit leader, brings her experience from serving on the boards of Pfizer and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Seligman, a corporate leader and lawyer, offers her expertise, which she has garnered from senior roles at Sony Corporation and her tenure as President of Sony Entertainment, Inc.
Simo, a seasoned executive in the consumer technology industry, joins the board with her extensive background in leading product development and strategy at prominent companies like Facebook and Instacart.
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