“While Ilya will no longer serve on the board, we hope to continue our working relationship and are discussing how he can continue his work at OpenAI.” – Sam Altman’s memo to employees.

OpenAI has officially reinstated Sam Altman as CEO, following a deal reached just before Thanksgiving. With Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) gaining a non-voting observer seat on OpenAI’s board, the tech giant will have increased visibility into the company’s operations but won’t have an official vote in major decisions. Microsoft holds a 49 percent stake in the for-profit entity controlled by the nonprofit board which now comprises Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo.

Altman said he was excited about the future in a memo to employees, and thanked them for their resilience during an uncertain situation. His memo also referred to the departure of board member Ilya Sutskever and expressed no ill will, with hopes to continue working together. (The Verge)

OpenAI’s new priorities include advancing research plans, improving and deploying products, and working on governance and board structure.

In a separate memo, Taylor expressed gratitude to the OpenAI community and outlined plans to strengthen corporate governance, including building a diverse board and conducting an independent review of recent events. The board aims to enhance OpenAI’s governance structure for the trust of all stakeholders.

The memos emphasized the importance of OpenAI in the AI landscape and the commitment to its mission.

Related Story:  A Powerful AI Discovery Triggered The Tumult At OpenAI (Reuters)

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