Microsoft appears to have gleaned a lesson from the OpenAI ChatGPT incident. In November, the ChatGPT board removed CEO Sam Altman during a video call, a move that surprised Microsoft, its major investor. However, after two additional days of corporate drama, Altman was reinstated at OpenAI.
The episode involving the dismissal of Sam Altman highlighted the negative impact of not having a representative from a company in which Microsoft has invested billions. In response, Microsoft Corp executive Dee Templeton has purportedly assumed a role as a nonvoting observer on OpenAI’s board. As reported by Bloomberg, Templeton’s inclusion is part of a wider board restructuring following the temporary removal of the startup’s CEO, Altman. The Information had previously indicated that Templeton was under consideration for the board position.
Introducing Microsoft’s representative on the OpenAI Board
As per Templeton’s LinkedIn profile, she boasts over 25 years of experience at Microsoft, presently holding the position of Vice President for Technology and Research Partnerships and Operations. Her journey with Microsoft commenced in 1998 as the company’s inaugural female technical employee at the New Zealand office. In her current capacity, she reports to Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer and heads a team responsible for overseeing various technical partnerships, including collaboration with OpenAI.
The individual, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that she has already commenced participating in board meetings. OpenAI and Microsoft declined to provide comments.
Following Altman’s reinstatement as CEO by OpenAI’s board, an agreement was reached to allocate a nonvoting observer seat to Microsoft, its primary investor. The present directors at OpenAI include Bret Taylor, the former co-CEO of Salesforce Inc.; Larry Summers, the former US Treasury secretary; and Adam D’Angelo, who continues from the previous board and serves as the CEO of the question-and-answer site Quora Inc.
Altman had mentioned earlier that the formation of a new board would occur “fairly quickly.” Although he did not provide a specific number for the eventual composition, he emphasized that the new board would be “significantly enlarged” compared to the existing one. OpenAI received criticism for the absence of women on the initial board.
Having pledged a substantial investment of approximately $13 billion in OpenAI and incorporating its products into core operations, Microsoft swiftly emerged as a frontrunner in AI within major tech companies. However, Microsoft, along with other investors, found itself surprised by the OpenAI board’s unexpected decision to remove Altman from his position.