In a tumultuous year for OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman has been recognized as Time magazine’s “CEO of the Year” for 2023, acknowledging his notable contributions to the tech industry. Despite the recent challenges at OpenAI, Altman’s leadership has been highlighted, particularly in the success of ChatGPT, which garnered over 1 million users within just five days of its November 2022 launch. This milestone is emphasized by Time as a significant achievement, with ChatGPT currently boasting 100 million users, surpassing the benchmark set by Facebook in 4.5 years.
OpenAI’s financial performance also saw a remarkable upswing, with reported revenue jumping from $28 million in 2022 to an impressive $100 million per month in 2023. In contrast to industry trends where many tech companies were downsizing, OpenAI took a different approach by embarking on a hiring spree. The success of ChatGPT prompted the launch of GPT-4 in March, an upgraded version capable of analyzing images and generating reliable code in various programming languages.
Discussing this phase of success, Altman acknowledged the accelerated pace in the field, stating, “We definitely accelerated the race, for lack of a more nuanced phrase.” As Altman navigated through AI hearings at the US Senate, he also embarked on a global tour, engaging with officials in India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and other countries, drawing attention to the need for comprehensive AI policies.
However, amidst these achievements, Time Magazine sheds light on concerns raised by OpenAI board members about Altman’s leadership style, noting a tendency to play different parties against each other to achieve desired outcomes. It is revealed that Altman managed the flow of information through him, a practice that raised eyebrows within the board. On November 17, Altman was ousted from his position, with the board citing a lack of candor in his communications. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella promptly hired Altman following this incident.
The removal of Altman sparked backlash from OpenAI employees, who threatened to resign unless the board stepped down. After five days of upheaval, Altman was reinstated as the CEO with new faces on the board. In response to the events, Altman stated, “The best interests of the company and the mission always come first. It is clear that there were real misunderstandings between me and members of the board. I welcome the board’s independent review of all recent events.”
In addition to Altman’s recognition, Time Magazine also named Taylor Swift as “Person of the Year” and Lionel Messi as “Athlete of the Year.”
This narrative captures the rollercoaster journey of Sam Altman and OpenAI, acknowledging their achievements, challenges, and the complexities of leadership dynamics within the organization. Time’s recognition reflects the impact of Altman’s leadership on the tech industry despite the internal and external turbulence faced by OpenAI.
