In an explosive interview with Bilawal Sidhu on “The TED AI Show,” ex-Board Member of OpenAI Helen Toner made some serious allegations against Sam Altman, the CEO and co-founder of OpenAI. (More from Business Insider.)
Toner claims that Altman was “withholding information” from the Board and was “misrepresenting things that were happening in the company.”
One of the more shocking allegations: “Sam didn’t inform the board that he owned the OpenAI startup fund, even though he constantly was claiming to be an independent board member with no financial interest in the company.”
Also, two OpenAI executives allegedly reported to the Board that Altman allegedly engaged in “psychological abuse.”
Toner said “we just couldn’t believe things that Sam was telling us, and that’s a completely unworkable place to be in as a board.”
According to Reuters, OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor provided a response to “The Ted AI Show” podcast, which said a review had been conducted into the events of last November. “We are disappointed that Miss Toner continues to revisit these issues…The review concluded that the prior board’s decision was not based on concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development, OpenAI’s finances, or its statements to investors, customers, or business partners.”
This is probably not the last we will hear about this controversy.