個案資料

OpenAI Inc., a prominent artificial intelligence (AI) research company, found itself at a defining moment following the controversial termination of its chief executive officer (CEO) Sam Altman by the board of directors on November 17, 2023. The decision, citing a lack of transparency, disagreements over the firm’s direction, and concerns about Altman’s management style and alleged “history of manipulative behavior,” ignited a backlash from the public, employees, and investors who put pressure on the board to reinstate him. Over 700 employees signed a letter demanding Altman’s reinstatement, threatening to leave if their demands were not met. Key investors like Microsoft Corporation also worked behind the scenes to reinstate Altman.<br><br>Founded in 2015 as a non-profit research lab aimed at developing safe and beneficial AI, OpenAI restructured as a capped-profit company in 2019 to compete effectively against its competitors. Under Altman’s leadership, OpenAI celebrated breakthroughs like the popular ChatGPT model, released in late 2022. However, there were tensions between the founding mission of developing safe and beneficial AI and the financial pressures to commercialize its technologies. Following stakeholder pressure, Altman was reinstated as CEO in November 2023. A new board was appointed, led by chair Bret Taylor, which now had to navigate the fallout from Altman’s termination and rebuild trust with stakeholders. The board faced difficult choices about how to reform OpenAI’s governance, balance the company’s founding mission with the realities of commercialization, and maintain its leading position in the fiercely competitive AI landscape.

<div style="line-height: 1.4;"><p align="justify">This case is suitable for use in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in business administration and management, and in executive education programs. It is well-suited for courses on:<br><br><ul><li>Strategic management, to illustrate the challenges of strategic decision-making, particularly in the context of balancing short-term financial pressures with long-term mission and values.</li><li>Corporate governance, as an opportunity to explore the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors and the CEO, as well as the importance of effective communication and trust between them.</li><li>Leadership and change management, to discuss the impact of leadership changes on organizational culture, performance, and stakeholder relationships.</li></ul><br>After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to<br><br><ul><li>understand the challenges of balancing a company’s founding mission with the pressures of commercialization and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving industry;</li><li>assess the role of stakeholders such as employees, investors, and the public in influencing board decisions and shaping a company’s direction;</li><li>develop strategies for rebuilding trust and reforming corporate governance structures in the wake of a leadership crisis; and</li><li>examine the ethical considerations surrounding the development and commercialization of transformative technologies like AI.</li></ul>

• OpenAI
• Sam Altman
• CEO dismissal
• board reorganization
• governance crisis
• mission vs. commercialization
• AI development
• strategic management
• corporate governance
• leadership crisis
• stakeholder management
• ethical AI
• organizational culture
• leadership transitions
• strategic decision-making
• board dynamics
• stakeholder relationships
• corporate trust
• executive education
• business administration