OpenAI, the organisation behind ChatGPT, has removed CEO and Co-Founder Sam Altman from his position after a review found that he was “not consistently candid in his communications” with the board of directors. 

The board stated that it no longer has confidence in Altman’s ability to lead the company. Mira Murati, OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, will serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.

Altman gained recognition for his role in the release of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot known for its advanced capabilities in generating human-like content. His departure follows a deliberative review process, and the board cited Altman’s lack of candour as hindering its ability to fulfil its responsibilities. 

While Altman has been influential in the AI sector and participated in discussions with heads of state about AI’s potential risks and benefits, his departure raises questions about the future direction of OpenAI, particularly as it continues to develop and refine advanced language models.

OpenAI, a Microsoft-backed firm, emphasised that the leadership transition won’t impact its relationship with Microsoft.

This leadership change comes after a period of scrutiny, and OpenAI will now focus on finding a leader who can effectively guide the organisation in its mission to advance digital intelligence for the benefit of humanity.