Emmett Shear has been appointed as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of OpenAI, defying investor calls for the reinstatement of Sam Altman.
OpenAI investors planned counter-coup to reinstate Sam Altman – report
Shear’s appointment follows his resignation from Twitch, Amazon.com Inc.’s game-streaming site, earlier this year.
Shear will assume his new role amid rising tensions at OpenAI offices after a momentous weekend of leadership changes. In a statement that sent shockwaves reverberating across Silicon Valley, OpenAI announced the axing of Altman and Chairman Greg Brockman, two of the AI platform’s founders.
While speculation mounted about a possible coup d’état, little was revealed about the true nature of Altman’s axing.
“Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI,” the board wrote at the time.
Altman, in response to the announcement, rallied support from his followers, including senior engineers at OpenAI, with a cryptic post suggesting he was prepared to go to war for the full value of his shares.
On Sunday, Altman returned to OpenAI’s offices to tie up loose strings and, in a jarring irony, he posted a picture of himself donning the OpenAI guest pass.
What to expect from Emmett Shear as OpenAI’s new CEO
Despite murmurs suggesting venture backers and Microsoft executives, who have heavily invested in OpenAI, were considering a counter-coup to overhaul the board and reinstate Altman, it seems a consensus was reached with Shear as a suitable compromise.
Shear’s deep understanding of AI’s existential threats reportedly influenced the board’s decision. His diverse background, including founding Justin.tv and evolving it into Twitch, showcases his innovative approach and leadership skills.
Emmett Shear’s journey began in Seattle, where he met his future co-founder Justin Kan. Both shared interests in math and Magic: The Gathering. Shear pursued a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Yale University, where he continued collaborating with Kan and Michael Siebel.
Under Shear’s leadership, Twitch grew into a major live-streaming platform, leading to its acquisition by Amazon in 2014 for approximately $970 million.
Shear’s resignation from Twitch in March 2023 set the stage for his new role at OpenAI.
