OpenAI faces multiple resignations amidst CEO Sam Altman’s removal

By Zion Rufus

Exactly one year since ChatGPT took the world by storm, internal tensions have escalated at OpenAI following the unexpected removal of CEO Sam Altman, resulting in a series of high-profile resignations.

The departure of Altman, cited for a lack of board confidence, triggered the immediate resignation of Greg Brockman, co-founder, and president of OpenAI, among others.

In a statement on social media platform X, Brockman expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved over eight years but announced his resignation based on the recent news. He wrote “I’m super proud of what we’ve all built together since starting in my apartment 8 years ago. We’ve been through tough & great times together, accomplishing so much despite all the reasons it should have been impossible. But based on today’s news, I quit.”

As part of the recent shifts, Brockman was slated to step down from his role as board chairman while maintaining a position within the company, reporting to the incoming CEO.

However, the sudden resignations did not stop there.

Three senior researchers at OpenAI, including Jakub Pachocki, the director of research; Aleksander Madry, head of risk evaluation for AI; and Szymon Sidor, a seven-year researcher, also tendered their resignations. The departures signal deep disappointment among employees, revealing longstanding divisions within OpenAI concerning AI safety practices as reported by The Information.

The friction leading to Altman’s removal stemmed from significant disputes with the board, notably with Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder, and chief scientist. The disagreements revolved around AI safety, technology development pace, and the company’s commercialization efforts.

These internal conflicts echo historical challenges within OpenAI related to responsible AI development, reflecting previous discord that led Elon Musk to sever ties in 2018 and prompted employee departures in 2020 to establish a competing venture, Anthropic.

In addition, the aftermath of Altman’s dismissal has unleashed a wave of resignations, emphasizing the organizational struggle to find consensus on critical aspects of AI development and governance.