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Besides explaining the haphazardness, that would also nicely explain why they didn't want to elaborate publicly on why they "had" to let him go -- "it was eithe

Besides explaining the haphazardness, that would also nicely explain why they didn't want to elaborate publicly on why they "had" to let him go -- "it was either him or us" wouldn't have been popular given his seeming popularity.

0xDEAFBEAD 3y ago
I suspect his popularity is mostly about employees who want to maintain the value of their equity: https://nitter.net/JacquesThibs/status/1727134087176204410#m https://nitter.net/JacquesThibs/status/1727134087176204410#m Wild guess: If the board stands its ground, appoints a reasonable new CEO, and employees understand that OpenAI will continue to be a hot startup, most of them will stay with the company due to their equity
- cpncrunch 3y ago
  Except, the facts behind Sam's firing will inevitably come out, and it won't be possible to brush it under the carpet. I think they hoped the facts wouldn't come out, and they could just give a hand-wavey explanation, but that's clearly not going to happen. It seems they have well and truly shot themselves in the feet, and they will likely have to be replaced now.
  - gizmo 3y ago
    If I'm correct then the board is fine with getting replaced, they just don't want Sam to have total control. Many of the candidates for independent director are friendly with Sam and will happily give him the keys to the kingdom. It's probably extremely difficult to find qualified independent board members who don't have ties to Sam.
mupuff1234 3y ago
Idk, seems like a pretty easy sell to me: "Sam was trying to censor legitimate concerns the board had with regards to the safety of the technology and actively tried to undermine the board and replace it with his own puppets." If that is indeed true they did a mistake by saying something vague imo.
- himaraya 3y ago
  I suspect the board prioritized legal exposure first and foremost. They made the mistake of not hiring a legal or PR firm to handle the dismissal.
  - adastra22 3y ago
    If they prioritized legal exposure, they would not have made disparaging remarks in their initial press release.
    - himaraya 3y ago
      Vague disparaging remarks, fine. Specific allegations, not so much.

0xDEAFBEAD 3y ago

I suspect his popularity is mostly about employees who want to maintain the value of their equity: https://nitter.net/JacquesThibs/status/1727134087176204410#m https://nitter.net/JacquesThibs/status/1727134087176204410#m Wild guess: If the board stands its ground, appoints a reasonable new CEO, and employees understand that OpenAI will continue to be a hot startup, most of them will stay with the company due to their equity

cpncrunch 3y ago
Except, the facts behind Sam's firing will inevitably come out, and it won't be possible to brush it under the carpet. I think they hoped the facts wouldn't come out, and they could just give a hand-wavey explanation, but that's clearly not going to happen. It seems they have well and truly shot themselves in the feet, and they will likely have to be replaced now.
- gizmo 3y ago
  If I'm correct then the board is fine with getting replaced, they just don't want Sam to have total control. Many of the candidates for independent director are friendly with Sam and will happily give him the keys to the kingdom. It's probably extremely difficult to find qualified independent board members who don't have ties to Sam.

mupuff1234 3y ago

Idk, seems like a pretty easy sell to me: "Sam was trying to censor legitimate concerns the board had with regards to the safety of the technology and actively tried to undermine the board and replace it with his own puppets." If that is indeed true they did a mistake by saying something vague imo.

himaraya 3y ago
I suspect the board prioritized legal exposure first and foremost. They made the mistake of not hiring a legal or PR firm to handle the dismissal.
- adastra22 3y ago
  If they prioritized legal exposure, they would not have made disparaging remarks in their initial press release.
  - himaraya 3y ago
    Vague disparaging remarks, fine. Specific allegations, not so much.