Open AI fires CEO Sam Altman and Co-founder Greg Brockman over Google meet call

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, made headlines on Friday as it abruptly dismissed CEO Sam Altman and removed co-founder Greg Brockman from the board during a Google Meet call. The decision, announced by the board of directors, cited a lack of confidence in Altman's consistent communication with the board, hindering its ability to fulfill responsibilities.

Greg Brockman took to X (formerly Twitter) to express shock and sadness, stating that Altman was informed of his termination during the call, and he, along with other board members, received similar news shortly afterward.According to Brockman, the call occurred at noon on Friday, where Altman was informed of his firing, and a blog post announcing the decision was published simultaneously. Brockman received a call minutes later, being removed from the board but assured that he would retain his vital role within the company. OpenAI named Mira Murati, the chief technology officer, as the interim CEO.

The sudden and unexpected decision has prompted speculation and support from the community, with Brockman expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. Altman, known for the release of ChatGPT, has left a significant impact on the tech world, with the company now under interim leadership as it navigates this unexpected transition.

Sam and I are shocked and saddened by what the board did today.

Let us first say thank you to all the incredible people who we have worked with at OpenAI, our customers, our investors, and all of those who have been reaching out.

We too are still trying to figure out exactly…

— Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 18, 2023

i love you all.

today was a weird experience in many ways. but one unexpected one is that it has been sorta like reading your own eulogy while you’re still alive. the outpouring of love is awesome.

one takeaway: go tell your friends how great you think they are.

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 18, 2023