Mira Murati, an engineer from Albania with a Dartmouth education, who played a key role in developing some of OpenAI’s notable products, has been appointed as the interim CEO of OpenAI.
Sam Altman, a prominent figure in artificial intelligence and a key player in the development of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is being ousted from the company. The board cited a loss of confidence in Altman’s leadership, leading to Mira Murati, an Albanian-born engineer and OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, stepping in as interim CEO. Altman’s departure surprised many, including those within the company.
Altman, aged 38, gained celebrity status with ChatGPT’s launch, engaging with world leaders like US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. OpenAI, under Altman’s leadership, became a pivotal AI company, with recent talks of an $86 billion valuation. Altman’s influence extended to shaping generative AI’s mainstream presence through tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E.
Founded in 2015, OpenAI, propelled by ChatGPT’s success, experienced a surge in interest. With about 100 million weekly ChatGPT users and over 90% of Fortune 500 companies building on OpenAI, the company is approaching $1 billion in annual revenue, according to reports. Altman, in a tweet, expressed his love for OpenAI and hinted at revealing more about his next steps.
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OpenAI is facing increased competition, particularly from well-funded rivals like Google. Sam Altman’s departure as CEO has disrupted secondary market trading of OpenAI shares, leaving uncertainty about the company’s future. While some transactions are on hold, others have been canceled. Inside and outside the company, there is speculation about the future without Altman, who played a crucial role in OpenAI’s success, securing substantial funds and leading its development of powerful AI models.
Pieter Abbeel, a former OpenAI research scientist, expressed surprise at Altman’s ousting, highlighting Altman’s instrumental role in the company. Rowan Curran, a senior analyst at Forrester, suggested that executive changes are not uncommon in the tech industry, and there’s no indication of underlying issues with OpenAI or its technology. Greg Brockman, another OpenAI co-founder, is leaving his board post but will remain as president.
Mira Murati, OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, is taking over as interim CEO. She joined in 2018, played a key role in projects like ChatGPT and Dall-E, and became CTO last year. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, expressed ongoing commitment despite Altman’s departure. Murati emphasized OpenAI’s critical juncture, with widespread adoption of its tools, active developer engagement, and policymakers considering AI regulation. She conveyed her honor and humility in leading OpenAI during this pivotal time.