A new book, The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future, unveils shocking details about the Sam Altman firing from OpenAI in 2023. The excerpt, written by Wall Street Journal journalist Keach Hagey, reveals internal conflicts, secret fund ownership, and alleged misconduct that led to the brief but dramatic removal of one of AI’s most influential figures.

The Hidden Concerns That Led to Sam Altman Firing

According to the book, OpenAI’s nonprofit board became increasingly uneasy about Altman’s leadership after discovering that the OpenAI Startup Fund—believed to be managed by OpenAI—was actually under Altman’s personal control. This revelation added to existing tensions between Altman and senior OpenAI executives, who raised concerns about transparency and decision-making ethics.

Leading the charge against Altman were OpenAI’s co-founder Ilya Sutskever and Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who allegedly gathered evidence of Altman’s questionable conduct. Screenshots from Murati’s Slack messages reportedly showed that Altman misrepresented internal legal decisions. One major claim states that Altman falsely insisted OpenAI’s legal team had cleared GPT-4 Turbo without requiring a review from the company’s joint safety board—a statement OpenAI’s top lawyer later denied.

The Coup That Backfired

After Sutskever presented this evidence to the board, they moved quickly to remove Altman, appointing Murati as interim CEO. However, the decision immediately triggered backlash, sparking an internal revolt among OpenAI employees and key investors.

In a shocking turn of events, OpenAI’s workforce—including both Sutskever and Murati—signed a petition demanding Altman’s reinstatement. Under immense pressure, the board reversed its decision within days, leading to Sam Altman’s return as CEO and a dramatic shake-up within the company.

Fallout: Departures and New AI Startups

The fallout from the Sam Altman firing was swift. Both Sutskever and Murati, who played pivotal roles in his removal, resigned from OpenAI to launch their own AI ventures. Their exits marked a significant power shift within the organization, reinforcing Altman’s dominance at OpenAI.

Despite the controversy, Altman has continued to lead OpenAI, further solidifying his influence in the AI space. However, the book’s revelations raise new questions about OpenAI’s governance, leadership ethics, and the internal conflicts that nearly tore the company apart.

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