OpenAI's Newly Reinstated CEO Sam Altman Equates Abrupt Dismissal From The Company To His Father's Death Trauma

ChatGPT-parent OpenAI's co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, has likened the emotional turmoil following his recent dismissal to the distress he encountered after the death of his father.

What Happened: Altman was dismissed as CEO of OpenAI on Nov. 17, however, he was reinstated after a drama that included the company's employees threatening to resign. This sudden shift in command saw the appointment of two interim CEOs, prior to Altman’s reinstatement a few days later.

Now, in a podcast interview with Trevor Noah, Altman described the dismissal as “unbelievably painful,” comparing it to the grief he experienced when his father succumbed to a heart attack in 2018, reported Business Insider.

As per the report, Altman's father died of a heart attack when he was just 67.

See Also: Reid Hoffman On Why Sam Altman Was Briefly Ousted From OpenAI: ‘Still Don’t Think We Fully Know’

Apart from speaking about this abrupt firing, Altman also shared his dislike of the name ChatGPT saying that "It's a horrible name, but it may be too ubiquitous to ever change."

"No marketer ever would've picked ChatGPT as the name for this, but we may be stuck with it. And that might be alright," he said during the podcast.

Why It Matters: The unexpected decision by OpenAI’s board to terminate Altman’s role sparked ripples in the tech industry. In their statement, the board alleged that Altman’s communications had not been “consistently candid.”

However, it has now been reported that there might be more to the story than meets the eye. The board’s decision was reportedly prompted by Altman’s alleged manipulative behaviors within the organization. Altman has been accused of playing board members against each other, particularly those who resisted his aggressive AI deployment strategy.

Previously, Altman expressed relief and satisfaction about his return to the company, stating that the firing episode proved OpenAI could function well without him. 

He said, “I selfishly feel good because either I picked great leaders or I mentored them well. It's very nice to feel like the company will be totally fine without me, and the team is ready and has leveled up."

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This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.