OpenAI board found out about ChatGPT through Twitter, claims ex-board member. Watch

Helen Toner has opened up about Sam Altman's exit from OpenAI

OpenAI’s board was not informed of the launch of ChatGPT by CEO Sam Altman, and instead learned about its existence when they saw it on Twitter, claims former board member Helen Toner. The Australian researcher cited this as one of several instances where Altman lied to the board.

Toner has provided the first detailed account of Altman’s dramatic firing and rehiring from OpenAI last November. In an interview on "The Ted AI Show" podcast that aired Tuesday, the former OpenAI board member said that Altman consistently “misrepresented things that were happening at the company,” withheld information and sometimes lied outright to the board.

Altman was fired by the company’s board on November 17, 2023 after the organisation claimed that it “lost confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI”. He returned four days later.

In her interview, Toner shed some light on the events that led to his firing and return as CEO of OpenAI. She painted a picture of a manipulative executive who fostered a "toxic atmosphere".

Sharing this, recorded a few weeks ago. Most of the episode is about AI policy more broadly, but this was my first longform interview since the OpenAI investigation closed, so we also talked a bit about November.

Thanks to @bilawalsidhu for a fun conversation! https://t.co/h0PtK06T0K

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— Helen Toner (@hlntnr) May 28, 2024

She also claimed that Altman, on “multiple occasions,” gave inaccurate information about formal safety processes. Because of this, it was basically impossible for the board to know how the safety processes were working or what changes needed to be made.

Toner found herself to be the target of Altman’s anger after she wrote a research paper. The paper suggested that ChatGPT’s release raised safety concerns and praised OpenAI’s rival startup Anthropic, according to a report in The Messenger.

Angered by the research paper, “Sam started lying to other board members in order to try and push me off the board,” claims Toner.

OpenAI’s response

When asked for comment, OpenAI referred to a statement current OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor provided to "The Ted AI Show" podcast, which said a review had been conducted into the events of last November.

"We are disappointed that Miss Toner continues to revisit these issues...The review concluded that the prior board's decision was not based on concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development, OpenAI's finances, or its statements to investors, customers, or business partners."

(With inputs from Reuters)