OpenAI's Former CEO Sam Altman Removed from Position in 2023 Amid Allegations of Deceptive Behavior

OpenAI's Turbulent Past: New Investigation Reveals Allegations of Deception Against Sam Altman

The high-profile case of Sam Altman's firing by the OpenAI board and subsequent rehiring within five days in 2023 is still fresh in the public's mind. However, the details surrounding Altman's sudden departure remained unclear until now, when a new in-depth investigation by The New Yorker has shed light on the events that led to his firing.

According to the report, Altman's firing was driven by internal allegations of persistent deception. The investigation notes that OpenAI's then-chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, compiled a detailed list of internal documents that explicitly accused Altman of lying to the board and the company's staff. Sutskever reportedly worked with like-minded colleagues to compile 70 pages of Slack messages and HR documents into secret memos, which he sent as disappearing messages to three OpenAI board members.

The memos accused Altman of misrepresenting facts to executives and board members, as well as deceiving them about internal safety protocols. One of the memos began with a list titled "Sam exhibits a consistent pattern of..." with the first item listed as "Lying." Altman was attending a Formula 1 race at Las Vegas when he was asked by Sutskever to join a video call with the board, where he was told he was no longer an employee of OpenAI.

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The board also released a public statement saying that Altman was fired because he "was not consistently candid in his communications." However, Altman was rehired by the company in just five days after pressure from investors and employees who threatened to quit if Altman wasn't brought back.

The report also gives details about concerns about Altman's behavior in his earlier roles in the Silicon Valley. At his early startup, Loopt, groups of senior employees reportedly asked the board to fire him as CEO on two occasions, citing concerns over his leadership and lack of transparency. Some employees also told the publication that they were struck by his tendency to exaggerate even about trivial things.

Later, when Altman served as president of the renowned startup incubator Y Combinator, several partners grew frustrated with him and complained to Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham about his tendency to prioritize his personal angel investments over the fund. After a "frank" conversation, Altman agreed to leave but became YC chairman instead. Both Altman and Graham publicly say that he wasn't fired, but the report notes that Graham privately has been unambiguous that Altman was removed due to YC partners' mistrust.

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Prior to Altman's removal, Graham reportedly told his YC colleagues, "Sam had been lying to us all the time." The report notes that after interviewing over a hundred people, several raised concerns about Altman's relentless drive for power and his handling of the truth. One unnamed board member described Altman as "unconstrained by truth" and having an "almost sociopathic lack of concern for the consequences that may come from deceiving someone."

The report also reveals that Aaron Swartz, the brilliant coder and Reddit co-founder, expressed concerns to friends about Altman's behavior before his death in 2013. Swartz reportedly told a friend, "You need to understand that Sam can never be trusted. He is a sociopath. He would do anything."