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Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

businessinsider.com

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Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#781

Post by cobbzilla »

sethammons wrote: post #728
zucker42 wrote: post #713

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. If the board had the reasons in this article ready to go when they fired Altman, things may have gone much differently.

totally agreed. I've been on the inside of two public fiascos. In both cases, rumor and intrigue ruled because the powers that be would not issue statements. The most prolific one I was on the inside(ish) for was Donglegate from the SendGrid perspective. I firmly believe more open communication would have made that go better.

I’m very curious how Donglegate was destined to be anything but a dumpster fire from moment number one. SendGrid wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but how could it have been better handled? Openly admitting that they fired someone as ransom for a DDOS?

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#782

Post by odyssey7 »

itsdrewmiller wrote: post #780
odyssey7 wrote: post #771

I see signs of Toner trying to spin things. “for years, Sam had made it really difficult for the board to actually do that job by withholding information, misrepresenting things that were happening at the company, in some cases outright lying to the board … [Altman gave] inaccurate information about the small number of formal safety processes that the company did have in place … For any individual case, Sam could alw…

Does she say she did nothing about the problem for years? (Genuine question, I haven't listened to the podcast yet myself.)

From what I’ve seen quoted, Toner says a lot of things that are non-specific and therefore difficult to weigh, assess, verify, or challenge.

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#783

Post by bb88 »

objektif wrote: post #764
_giorgio_ wrote: post #761

Can't be toxic culture if everyone wants to work there, and if 95% of people threatened to fire themselves to follow him. It's toxic be a board member and to write a research paper spilling trade secrets of the company that you work for. Maybe that's why the CEO doesn't talk to you about product launches anymore.

It very well can be toxic. I remember there was a hedge fund with extremely toxic work environment to the point that some bosses were forcing the employees to take female hormones for certain reason (I can’t recollect 5the exact reason). But still people wanted to work there. Money.

This one?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/13/genderissue...

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#784

Post by dcow »

odyssey7 wrote: post #771

I see signs of Toner trying to spin things. “for years, Sam had made it really difficult for the board to actually do that job by withholding information, misrepresenting things that were happening at the company, in some cases outright lying to the board … [Altman gave] inaccurate information about the small number of formal safety processes that the company did have in place … For any individual case, Sam could alw…

What about the part where it’s explained that the employees coming forward gave the board the ammunition needed to act?

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#785

Post by putlake »

While I am somewhat sympathetic to the board based on what I have read about Altman's behavior pattern (he was allegedly fired from YC for similar reasons of not disclosing conflicts of interest), it is strange to me how thin the board members' resumes are. What notable achievements does Toner have? She's 32 and hasn't really built or run a company.

Another board member is the wife of actor Joseph Gordon Levitt. Same story -- no notable achievements or experience running a business.

A more competent board would have handled things better and may have prevailed in their ouster of the CEO. Here they just got outmaneuvered even though they may have been right in their call.

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#786

Post by odyssey7 »

dcow wrote: post #784
odyssey7 wrote: post #771

I see signs of Toner trying to spin things. “for years, Sam had made it really difficult for the board to actually do that job by withholding information, misrepresenting things that were happening at the company, in some cases outright lying to the board … [Altman gave] inaccurate information about the small number of formal safety processes that the company did have in place … For any individual case, Sam could alw…

What about the part where it’s explained that the employees coming forward gave the board the ammunition needed to act?

What about it? Show us the specifics, the receipts, and then maybe we can have a better idea.

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#787

Post by objektif »

bb88 wrote: post #783
objektif wrote: post #764

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It very well can be toxic. I remember there was a hedge fund with extremely toxic work environment to the point that some bosses were forcing the employees to take female hormones for certain reason (I can’t recollect 5the exact reason). But still people wanted to work there. Money.

This one? https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/13/genderissue...

Yes SAC.

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#788

Post by bb88 »

Retric wrote: post #778
_giorgio_ wrote: post #769

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you do the same in your company?

You mean pass something like that around? No. I’d seriously consider quitting on the spot if my boss at any place I’ve worked in the past asked me to sign something like that. Not signing isn’t quite the same thing as quitting, but there’s a clear implication not doing so would seriously damage any long term prospects at the company.

"Hi this is Karen from HR. Is there a reason you didn't sign the loyalty oath on Tuesday of last week? I'm just checking in to make sure everything is okay with you at Altruistic Capital Inc."

Re: Ex-OpenAI board member reveals what led to Sam Altman's brief ousting

#789

Post by aurareturn »

putlake wrote: post #785

While I am somewhat sympathetic to the board based on what I have read about Altman's behavior pattern (he was allegedly fired from YC for similar reasons of not disclosing conflicts of interest), it is strange to me how thin the board members' resumes are. What notable achievements does Toner have? She's 32 and hasn't really built or run a company. Another board member is the wife of actor Joseph Gordon Levitt. Same…

I agree. I checked Helen Toner's resume on Linkedin and you're right that she seems very inexperienced for this role. She doesn't have any AI background nor has she been an exec at a company.

To me, this looks more of a case where Altman had a completely different vision for the company that the original board did not have or knew. In Toner's case, Altman likely did not respect her background nor what she brought to the table as a board member.

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