Marissa Mayer, the former CEO of Yahoo, has openly criticized OpenAI’s governance structure following a turbulent weekend for the AI research firm. In a series of social media posts, Mayer voiced her concerns about the company’s leadership upheavals and the abrupt ousting of co-founder and CEO Sam Altman.
The drama unfolded as OpenAI, known for its cutting-edge AI technology, cycled through three CEOs in a short span. Altman’s sudden removal, reportedly orchestrated by board member and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, sent shockwaves through the company, with employees and key investors, including Microsoft, caught off guard.
Mayer’s critique, shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasized the need for OpenAI’s investors, like Microsoft, to address the apparent weaknesses in the company’s governance. She expressed sadness over OpenAI’s “crazy governance model” that facilitated the hasty exit of its CEO.
Sutskever later expressed regret over his role in Altman’s departure, but efforts to reinstate Altman ultimately failed. The company appointed former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear as interim CEO, while Microsoft announced bringing Altman on board to lead a new AI team.
Highlighting the core issue, Mayer pointed to OpenAI’s unique governance structure. Originally a non-profit, OpenAI later formed a for-profit arm governed by the non-profit’s board to focus on its mission of developing technology for humanity rather than solely for profit. This setup, where most board directors don’t have financial stakes in the for-profit branch, has led to a smaller and less experienced board than typical for a company of OpenAI’s stature and impact.
Mayer’s comments underscore the importance of a well-balanced, diverse, and experienced board, especially for a company at the forefront of AI development. She noted that until a few months ago, the board composition was adequate but became problematic when it shrank without promptly refilling seats.
Reports from The Information suggest that Mayer herself, along with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, were being considered as potential additions to the OpenAI board. As behind-the-scenes efforts continue to reshape OpenAI’s leadership, Mayer’s critique serves as a reminder of the critical role governance plays in steering companies through challenging times, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.