one year on
OpenAI taps former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear as interim chief after Altman ouster
The AI company names its third CEO in three days, while ousted Sam Altman is set to join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.
The move comes two days after OpenAI fired Sam Altman. A group of investors, including Microsoft and Thrive Capital, had been trying to bring Altman back.
Shear, who stepped down as Twitch CEO in March, said he took the role as ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ after verifying with the board that Altman’s removal ‘did not’ stem from a safety dispute. He pledged a 30-day review of the ouster process and said he will also introduce changes, including in OpenAI’s governance if needed.
Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman will lead a new advanced AI research team at the company, with resources ‘needed for their success.’ Altman himself reshared Nadella’s post, adding ‘the mission continues.’ Altman also wrote on X, ‘i love the openai team so much,’ and Murati was one of many OpenAI employees who responded with a heart sign.
Shear said the board told him the firing was not about safety, and that he believed the process was 'handled very badly,' damaging trust in the company.
Altman reshared Nadella's post announcing he would join Microsoft, adding 'the mission continues.'
One year later — open only if you can handle spoilers
Shear's tenure lasted barely a week before Altman returned as CEO, the board was reshuffled, and Microsoft took a non-voting board seat. The episode permanently altered OpenAI's governance structure and became a case study in the perils of nonprofit-controlled startups.