Sam Altman asserts control of OpenAI as he joins its board

Mr. Altman, whose sudden firing and rehiring in the fall shocked Silicon Valley, was among the new board additions announced Friday.

The conclusion of investigation into chaotic firing Sam Altman's arrival from OpenAI more than three months ago represented a stunning victory for the high-profile CEO as he prepares to reassert control of the intelligence company artificial intelligence he helped create.

OpenAI, at a news conference Friday, said Mr. Altman, who returned to OpenAI for just five days after being ousted in November, had done nothing to warrant his dismissal and would return to the only role within the company that had still eluded him: a seat on the company's board of directors.

Mr. Altman's ouster stunned Silicon Valley and jeopardized the future of one of the tech industry's most influential startups. It also called into question whether OpenAI – with or without Mr Altman at its helm – was prepared to carry the banner of the tech industry's rabid interest in artificial intelligence.

When he returned to OpenAI in November, Mr. Altman failed to regain his seat on the board while accepting an investigation into his behavior and the board's actions. Two members who voted for his removal have agreed to step down; their replacements, outside the company, oversaw the investigation led by the WilmerHale law firm. Bret Taylor, chairman of the board of directors of OpenAI, said during the press conference that the much-anticipated report on the episode was completed, but the company has not released it.

The company said the law firm's report concluded that OpenAI's board acted within its broad discretion to fire Mr. Altman, but also concluded that his conduct did not require his dismissal.

"The special report The committee recommended and the entire board expressed its full confidence in Mr. . Altman and Mr. Brockman," Mr. Taylor said, referring to Greg Brockman, the company chairman who resigned in protest after Mr. Altman's removal. "We are delighted and unanimous in our support to Sam and Greg."

We are having difficulty retrieving the content of the article.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and log in to your Times account, or subscribe to the entire Times.