Ex-OpenAI board member provides her first detailed account of CEO ouster

SAN FRANCISCO – OpenAI’s board handiest learned of the existence of ChatGPT when they observed it on Twitter, faded board member Helen Toner said in an interview on “The Ted AI Exhibit” podcast that aired Tuesday.

Toner offered her first detailed fable of the backstory gradual the dramatic firing and rehiring closing November of OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, painting a checklist of a manipulative executive who fostered a “toxic ambiance”.

Toner said one catalyst for Altman’s ousting was once when two OpenAI executives reported situations of “psychological abuse” to the board.

“They were in actuality serious, to the level the attach they in fact sent us screenshots and documentation of one of the crucial situations they were telling us about…” she said.

Altman did not reply on to a ask for mumble.

When asked for mumble, OpenAI referred to an announcement fresh OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor offered to “The Ted AI Exhibit” podcast, which said a overview had been conducted into the occasions of closing November.

“We are upset that Rush away out Toner continues to revisit these points…The overview concluded that the prior board’s decision was once not based mostly on concerns concerning product safety or safety, the tempo of model, OpenAI’s funds, or its statements to investors, prospects, or trade partners.”

Altman triumphantly returned to OpenAI four days after he was once fired, after the broad majority of OpenAI’s then 700-solid group threatened to lunge away and until the board stepped down and reinstated him.

On the podcast, Toner attributed Altman’s swift return to staff being beneficial that the corporate would cave in with out him. Furthermore, once a possible return gave the impression possible, staff feared retaliation from Altman if they did not make stronger him, she said.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI kicked off the generative synthetic intelligence craze when it launched the viral ChatGPT chatbot in 2022.