Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner recently shed light on the reasons behind the firing of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Toner revealed that Altman’s dishonesty led to a breakdown of trust within the board, making it impossible for them to have confidence in his leadership.
Toner disclosed that the board was kept in the dark about the launch of ChatGPT until it was publicly released in November 2022, with the board only finding out about it through Twitter. This lack of transparency was a significant point of contention for the board.
In a podcast, Toner criticized Altman for obstructing the board’s duties by withholding crucial information, misrepresenting facts, and even lying to the board. She also accused Altman of concealing the company’s ownership structure, presenting himself as an independent board member with no financial interest.
These actions eroded the board’s trust in Altman, leading to discussions about his removal from the position. Toner also criticized Altman’s handling of AI safety concerns, stating that he frequently provided inaccurate information to the board regarding safety procedures.
In response to Toner’s comments, an OpenAI spokesperson referred to a statement made on The TED AI Show by Bret Taylor, OpenAI’s current board chief. Taylor expressed disappointment in Toner’s continued addressing of these issues and stated that an independent review found Altman’s dismissal was not related to safety, security, or financial matters.
Altman was reinstated to the board in March following a temporary group’s decision, which included prominent figures like economist Larry Summers and Instacart CEO Fiji Simo. The reasons behind Altman’s dismissal last year remain unclear, sparking speculation in Silicon Valley.