If Sam Altman Returns to OpenAI, Board Will Go

OpenAI’s ousted CEO Sam Altman was discussing a return to the startup he co-founded Saturday, after a flood of employee support and as major investors pressured the board to reverse the decision. His return would invite a new bout of upheaval: the members of the board would have to be replaced, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Alternatively, Altman would continue with plans to launch a new venture.

Saturday evening, dozens of people, including OpenAI employees, were leaving Altman’s $27 million mansion in the tony Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, after gathering at the residence to learn more about the company’s future and Altman’s situation, according to an employee leaving the residence.

Employees rallied around Altman as investors negotiated behind the scenes. Tiger Global took part in an investor group that was pushing to get OpenAI’s board of directors to reinstate Altman, according to a person familiar with the matter. Separately, Sequoia Capital has been talking to Altman about next steps, including a potential return, said a second person. The firm has also been encouraging executives at Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest backers, to help engineer his return, according to the person.