OpenAI investors are reportedly pushing for the return of ousted CEO Sam Altman.
Mr Altman was fired on Friday from the company behind the artificial intelligence-based ChatGPT.
The company said the reason it fired Mr. Altman was that the board had lost confidence in him because he had not been “open in his communications.”
However, it is now claimed that his supporters, including Microsoft, are calling on the board to reinstate him, fearing that without him at the helm there will be a mass exodus of talent from the company, the sources said.
Insiders close to Altman said Saturday that he has spoken with OpenAI executives about improving the company’s management structure.
It was also claimed that he spoke with some of OpenAI’s core researchers and other dedicated followers about how to start a new artificial intelligence company.
Technology news website Information also reported that OpenAI is “optimistic” it could bring back Altman.
He also cited a memo from the company’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, informing employees that efforts were underway to bring back Altman and other senior colleagues who resigned after his departure.
Opportunities for a return or reboot for Altman, widely seen as the face of generative AI, are in flux, according to a source who requested anonymity.
Microsoft declined to comment. He reportedly owns 49% of the company, while other investors and employees control 49%, 2% of which is owned by the nonprofit OpenAI.
OpenAI and Altman did not respond to requests for comment.
Khosla Ventures, one of OpenAI’s early backers, wants Altman to return to OpenAI but “will support him in whatever he does next,” fund founder Vinod Khosla wrote on X on Saturday.
Emotions were running high Saturday, with current and former employees upset by Altman’s ouster and concerned about how the sudden change in leadership could affect the upcoming $86 billion stock sale.
OpenAI, a non-profit organization co-founded by billionaire Elon Musk, launched ChatGPT on November 30 last year, creating a global buzz around the generative artificial intelligence technology, which has quickly become the fastest-growing software application in the world.
This has sparked a wave of investment and announcements across all industries about using AI to improve everything from financial services and healthcare to entertainment and media.
Additional information from Reuters.