OpenAI expands board to include Larry Summers as Sam Altman returns

OpenAI reinstates Sam Altman as CEO and adds Larry Summers to the board after firing him, in a surprising move.

In a shocking turn of events, OpenAI has announced that former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will be joining the company's newly expanded board of directors. This news comes just five days after the company fired Sam Altman as chief executive, only to reinstate him shortly thereafter.

Summers is expected to play a key role in recruiting new board members and addressing governance issues, which have been a major point of contention for Microsoft, one of OpenAI's primary financial backers. At present, the company has an "initial board" that includes Summers, Chairman Bret Taylor, and Adam D'Angelo.

In addition to Summers, Altman and an executive from Microsoft, OpenAI's largest investor, are also reportedly being considered for board positions. This follows the recent ousting of Altman and other board members, including Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman.

Summers will now have the opportunity to closely examine the company behind ChatGPT, a venture he previously described as "coming for the cognitive class" and predicted would have a significant impact on various industries, including healthcare and finance.

This move is not Summers' first foray into Silicon Valley, as he currently sits on the board of Jack Dorsey's Block Inc. and has held directorships at several other technology and financial services companies. Summers has been a vocal advocate for the potential of AI, warning of its impact on the job market and comparing it to other transformative technologies throughout history.

Altman's reinstatement marks the end of a tumultuous period for OpenAI, which saw a mass exodus of staff following his initial dismissal. The company has yet to provide a detailed explanation for Altman's removal, but his return has been met with relief and support from the interim CEO, Emmett Shear.

The addition of Summers to the board and the reinstatement of Altman signal a new chapter for OpenAI, as it seeks to navigate the challenges of governance and leadership in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.