New Book Spills the Tea on OpenAI’s Boardroom Meltdown

Thought the November 2023 OpenAI drama was over? Think again. A new book, “The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future” by Keach Hagey, is pulling back the curtain on one of Silicon Valley’s wildest power struggles.

The Details:

• Then-CTO Mira Murati and co-founder Ilya Sutskever reportedly compiled a file of Altman’s alleged toxic behavior and dishonesty.

• Among the revelations: Altman personally owned OpenAI’s Startup Fund, despite previous claims that the company “managed” it.

• Sutskever presented the case to the board, triggering Altman’s removal and Murati’s appointment as interim CEO.

• Days before the coup, Peter Thiel allegedly warned Altman about growing internal backlash from AI safety advocates.

• But the plan unraveled when hundreds of employees threatened to quit, forcing the board’s hand. Altman was reinstated. Murati and Sutskever later exited.

Why It Matters:

This wasn’t just a corporate reshuffle—it was a battle over power, transparency, and the future of AI itself. With the full book launching in May, questions remain:

Will fresh details rewrite public opinion?
Or is OpenAI already too far into its next chapter to be haunted by its last?

One thing’s certain: Silicon Valley doesn’t forget—but it does move fast.