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OpenAI leaders warned of abusive behavior before Sam Altman's ouster

FrustratedMonky 3y ago
""Altman — a revered mentor, and avatar of the AI revolution — had been psychologically abusive, the employees alleged, creating pockets of chaos and delays at the artificial-intelligence start-up, according to two people familiar with the board's thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal matters. The company leaders, a group that included key figures and people who manage large teams, mentioned Altman's allegedly pitting employees against each other in unhealthy ways, the people said. Although the board members didn't use the language of abuse to describe Altman's behavior, these complaints echoed some of their interactions with Altman over the years, and they had already been debating the board's ability to hold the CEO accountable. Several board members thought Altman had lied to them, for example, as part of a campaign to remove board member Helen Toner after she published a paper criticizing OpenAI, the people said.""
FrustratedMonky 3y ago
Some of this is pretty bad. -> Could we see a second firing??? ""The new complaints triggered a review of Altman's conduct during which the board weighed the devotion Altman had cultivated among factions of the company against the risk that OpenAI could lose key leaders who found interacting with him highly toxic. They also considered reports from several employees who said they feared retaliation from Altman: One told the board that Altman was hostile after the employee shared critical feedback with the CEO and that he undermined the employee on that person's team, the people said... The complaints about Altman's alleged behavior, which have not previously been reported, were a major factor in the board's abrupt decision to fire Altman on Nov. 17, according to the people. Initially cast as a clash over the safe development of artificial intelligence, Altman's firing was at least partially motivated by the sense that his behavior would make it impossible for the board to oversee the CEO.""
hilux 3y ago
None of this is surprising or even atypical for CEOs. OTOH, if Sam is so horrible, why did all the employees threaten to quit (we're told) if he were not returned to his CEO role? I've definitely worked for CEOs who did not inspire that type of loyalty. Most/all of them. What I still can't tell is whether Sam Altman is a leader, visionary, and ultimately responsible for OpenAI's success, or merely a manipulative self-promoter and upward manager, taking credit for Ilya's creation.
- rightbyte 3y ago
  I would say it is more likely a horrible CEO would trigger a threat of a "walkout". Who cares who the CEO is, unless there is a cult around him? Or the CEO has a personal guard of minions?
- tanaros 3y ago
  > OTOH, if Sam is so horrible, why did all the employees threaten to quit (we're told) if he were not returned to his CEO role? I've definitely worked for CEOs who did not inspire that type of loyalty. Most/all of them. Money. OpenAI was planning a tender offer at a high valuation. After the board’s actions, that was largely viewed as gone. Now, with Altman restored to his position, the tender offer is back on the table.
jnaina 3y ago
In Pre-Sculley Apple, Steve Jobs was also likewise known to have been manipulative, worked people against each other and being a total dick to get his way. The visionary assh*le Silicon Valley founder/CEO has been, to a large extent, right or wrong, the reason for SV's reign as the pre-eminent global tech hub.

""Altman — a revered mentor, and avatar of the AI revolution — had been psychologically abusive, the employees alleged, creating pockets of chaos and delays at the artificial-intelligence start-up, according to two people familiar with the board's thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal matters. The company leaders, a group that included key figures and people who manage large teams, mentioned Altman's allegedly pitting employees against each other in unhealthy ways, the people said. Although the board members didn't use the language of abuse to describe Altman's behavior, these complaints echoed some of their interactions with Altman over the years, and they had already been debating the board's ability to hold the CEO accountable. Several board members thought Altman had lied to them, for example, as part of a campaign to remove board member Helen Toner after she published a paper criticizing OpenAI, the people said.""

FrustratedMonky 3y ago

Some of this is pretty bad. -> Could we see a second firing??? ""The new complaints triggered a review of Altman's conduct during which the board weighed the devotion Altman had cultivated among factions of the company against the risk that OpenAI could lose key leaders who found interacting with him highly toxic. They also considered reports from several employees who said they feared retaliation from Altman: One told the board that Altman was hostile after the employee shared critical feedback with the CEO and that he undermined the employee on that person's team, the people said... The complaints about Altman's alleged behavior, which have not previously been reported, were a major factor in the board's abrupt decision to fire Altman on Nov. 17, according to the people. Initially cast as a clash over the safe development of artificial intelligence, Altman's firing was at least partially motivated by the sense that his behavior would make it impossible for the board to oversee the CEO.""

hilux 3y ago

None of this is surprising or even atypical for CEOs. OTOH, if Sam is so horrible, why did all the employees threaten to quit (we're told) if he were not returned to his CEO role? I've definitely worked for CEOs who did not inspire that type of loyalty. Most/all of them. What I still can't tell is whether Sam Altman is a leader, visionary, and ultimately responsible for OpenAI's success, or merely a manipulative self-promoter and upward manager, taking credit for Ilya's creation.

rightbyte 3y ago
I would say it is more likely a horrible CEO would trigger a threat of a "walkout". Who cares who the CEO is, unless there is a cult around him? Or the CEO has a personal guard of minions?
tanaros 3y ago
> OTOH, if Sam is so horrible, why did all the employees threaten to quit (we're told) if he were not returned to his CEO role? I've definitely worked for CEOs who did not inspire that type of loyalty. Most/all of them. Money. OpenAI was planning a tender offer at a high valuation. After the board’s actions, that was largely viewed as gone. Now, with Altman restored to his position, the tender offer is back on the table.

jnaina 3y ago

In Pre-Sculley Apple, Steve Jobs was also likewise known to have been manipulative, worked people against each other and being a total dick to get his way. The visionary assh*le Silicon Valley founder/CEO has been, to a large extent, right or wrong, the reason for SV's reign as the pre-eminent global tech hub.