Global: Sam Altman Reinstated on OpenAI Board Following Trust Breakdown

Sam Altman is set to resume his position on OpenAI’s board after a recent review found no evidence to support his dismissal late last year, according to reports.

Altman, who co-founded the artificial intelligence (AI) firm, was removed as CEO and board member in January, only to be reinstated by the remaining board members, who subsequently stepped down. The review concluded that while there was a breakdown in trust between Altman and the former board, there was no indication that Altman had misled investors.

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT), board chair Bret Taylor stated that the trust breakdown was the primary issue and emphasized that the past board had acted in good faith, not foreseeing the subsequent instability.

Altman expressed relief, stating, “I’m pleased this whole thing is over. Over these last few months, it’s been disheartening to see some people with an agenda trying to tease leaks in the press to try and hurt the company and hurt the mission. They have not worked. They have been a disservice to OpenAI and the mission.”

The question of whether OpenAI misled investors is reportedly the focus of an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.

Last week, the concept of “responsible AI” was explored in the context of an open letter from OpenAI, Salesforce, and other tech companies. The letter emphasized a “collective responsibility” to maximize AI’s benefits and mitigate risks to society.

While the principles of responsible AI may seem broad, the impact of the technology on people’s lives is substantial. Kate Kalcevich of digital accessibility company Fable raised concerns about potential barriers to individuals with disabilities if AI technologies are not used responsibly. For instance, using a non-disabled video avatar to represent someone with a disability might raise ethical questions. Kalcevich highlighted potential exclusions in critical services like healthcare, education, and employment if AI tools are not designed with accessibility in mind for individuals with communication disabilities.