Welcome to the AI TECH INQUIRY NEWSLETTER

In this issue, we take a look at the dramatic events surrounding the firing and subsequent return of Sam Altman as CEO of OpenAI. We'll explore the reasons for his ouster, the backlash from employees and investors, and what his return means for the future of the company.

In today’s AI TECH INQUIRY NEWSLETTER

• Sam Altman has been reinstated as CEO of OpenAI after being fired just days earlier.

• OpenAI has released a major update to its large language model, Claude.

• There are a number of new AI tools available that can help you with a variety of tasks.

• A new tool called Sitepal allows you to create a website in just 30 seconds from a doodle.

• xAI's Grok tool will be integrated directly into X (formerly Twitter).

• Stability AI has unveiled a new generative video model called Stability Diffusion.

  
  Read time: 3 minutes

LATEST UPDATE

OPENAI

🚨  SAM ALTMAN RETURNS AS CEO OF OPENAI

The AI TECH STUDIO: The OpenAI saga has seemingly come to an end with a crazy timeline yesterday and the eventual return of Sam Altman as CEO late last night.

If you’re new, get a rundown from our brief on Monday & Tuesday.

Yesterday’s timeline:

• First, Emmett Shear reportedly said he would quit if the board couldn’t communicate why Altman was fired.

• Throughout the drama, the team at OpenAI still launched a new feature, enabling ChatGPT with voice to all free users.

• However, after the announcement, a widespread ChatGPT outage occurred, with some users reporting a mysterious “ChatGPT Alpha.”

• Another report surfaced that Helen Toner (one of six board members) might have been the reason for the firing.

• Late last night, OpenAI announced the return of Sam Altman and a new initial board of directors that will eventually expand to 9 people.

The relevance: The events that transpired this week will be written in AI history forever (and probably aired on Netflix next year!). If there’s one takeaway, it’s that the OpenAI team is one helluva group, and we can expect them to come back stronger than ever (case in point).

However, one question remains: Will the initial decision of the firing ever be made public? What did Ilya see?

The Fall of Sam Altman

Altman Fired After "Lack of Candor"

On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors abruptly fired Sam Altman, the company's co-founder and CEO. The board cited a "lack of candor" in Altman's communications as the reason for his dismissal. However, the exact nature of the communications in question remains unclear.

Employee and Investor Uproar

Employees Threaten to Resign

News of Altman's firing was met with immediate outrage from OpenAI's employees. In a show of solidarity, nearly all of the company's 750-strong workforce threatened to resign if Altman was not reinstated.

Investors Call for Governance Changes

OpenAI's investors were also dismayed by Altman's ouster. Several prominent investors called for the resignation of the board of directors and demanded a more transparent and accountable leadership structure.

Altman's Return

Altman Agrees to Return

After days of turmoil, Altman and the OpenAI board reached an agreement in principle for his reinstatement. The terms of the agreement remain confidential, but it is believed that Altman agreed to make certain changes to his communication style.

The Future of OpenAI

What Does Altman's Return Mean for OpenAI?

Altman's return is likely to have a significant impact on the future of OpenAI. He is a charismatic and visionary leader who is widely respected in the field of artificial intelligence. However, his return also raises questions about the company's governance and decision-making process.

Conclusion

Only Time Will Tell

Only time will tell whether Altman's return will be enough to heal the wounds at OpenAI and set the company on a course for success. However, his return is a clear sign that the company's employees and investors believe in his vision and leadership.

Thank you for reading!

We hope you enjoyed this issue of the AI TECH INQUIRY NEWSLETTER. Please check back in two weeks for our next issue.

Sincerely,

The AI TECH INQUIRY Team