OpenAI's Australian former board member claims 'toxic culture of lying' was behind Sam Altman firing
Two former OpenAI board members have used an op-ed to explain the shock firing of the generative artificial intelligence company's co-founder, which triggered a staff revolt and his eventual reinstatement.
After six months of relative silence, the OpenAI board members who sacked Sam Altman from the startup’s top job have spoken out about what led to the decision that polarised Silicon Valley.
Firing Altman was an attempt by the board to protect the company’s mission to develop ethical and safe artificial intelligence, ex-board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley wrote in an op-ed for The Economist.
“The board’s ability to uphold the company’s mission had become increasingly constrained due to long-standing patterns of behaviour exhibited by Mr Altman,” they wrote.
“Multiple senior leaders had privately shared grave concerns with the board, saying they believed that Mr Altman cultivated 'a toxic culture of lying' and engaged in 'behaviour [that] can be characterised as psychological abuse'."
