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File photo dated May 16, 2023 shows Samuel Altman, CEO, OpenAI, offers his opening statement during a Senate Committee hearing
Two investigations may soon shed light on one of the biggest mysteries in Silicon Valley: Why was Sam Altman fired from OpenAI?
To recap, the OpenAI board fired Altman in November, saying he was not “consistently candid in his communications,” but it failed to provide specifics (the big mystery). OpenAI’s staff and lead investor, Microsoft, immediately protested the ouster and successfully campaigned for Altman’s reinstatement – and for fresh faces on the nonprofit board.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is now investigating whether OpenAI misled its investors in firing Altman. Meanwhile, the law firm WilmerHale is conducting an internal investigation of the Altman firing and will soon present its findings to the current board of directors, which commissioned the review.
Altman’s alleged deceit may have something to do with his plans to raise trillions of dollars for a chip venture, something that’s come to light in the months since this debacle. We have our ear to the ground for where the investigations are headed, and what it could mean for the giant of genAI.