OpenAI Co-founder’s Wife Anna Brockman Requests Board Member Sutskever to Reinstate Altman
Jason Kwon, OpenAI CSO, Also Acts as Mediator
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, returned to his CEO position just five days after being dismissed by the board of directors, with significant contributions reportedly made by two Korean-Americans.
According to U.S. media outlets such as Business Insider on the 22nd (local time), Anna Brockman, wife of OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and Jason Kwon, OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), are mentioned as the Korean-Americans who influenced Altman’s return.
After Altman’s sudden dismissal, Anna visited the OpenAI headquarters and met with Ilya Sutskever, a board member who led the dismissal. She reportedly pleaded tearfully with Sutskever to change his mind, and after their conversation, Sutskever is said to have reconsidered his stance on Altman’s position. Sutskever, one of OpenAI’s co-founders, also officiated Anna and Brockman’s wedding, establishing a close connection between them.
In addition to Anna, Sutskever is known to have engaged in debates with several OpenAI employees regarding Altman’s dismissal, which led him to rethink his decision. After Altman’s removal, Sutskever posted on social media expressing his "deep regret" over his actions.
Jason Kwon is also cited as another Korean-American who influenced Altman’s return. He acted as a mediator between the board, Altman, and employees, mentioning the possibility of Altman’s reinstatement.
In a memo sent to employees on the 18th, Kwon stated, "We are working hard to find a solution and the situation is optimistic," adding, "By solution, we mean bringing back Sam and other colleagues."
He is also reported to have continued sharing updates and information regarding Altman’s dismissal.
Meanwhile, the OpenAI board abruptly dismissed Altman on the 17th. The decisive cause was reportedly a conflict between Altman and the board over the pace of AI development. However, investors including Microsoft (MS) and OpenAI employees opposed Altman’s dismissal, forcing the board to back down, and Altman returned to the OpenAI CEO position after five days.
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