OpenAI, the AI research company, has named Emmett Shear as its interim CEO after the ousting of former head Sam Altman. Shear is a former CEO of Twitch, the live video streaming platform, and a partner at startup accelerator Y Combinator. He is known for his advocacy of safety in the development of artificial intelligence. Shear has shared a plan for the next steps at OpenAI, saying he would look to reform the startup’s management team and hire an independent investigator to dig into Altman’s departure.
According to The Information and Forbes, OpenAI’s board of directors selected former Twitch co-founder and former CEO, Emmett Shear as interim CEO. Today Emmett Shear posted on X after taking over as OpenAI’s interim CEO. Amongst other things, he said that after talking it over with his family and thinking about it for several hours, he accepted.
Previously, the OpenAI board of directors sent a memo to staff stating that its former CEO Sam Altman would not return to his job as CEO. In the memo, the board said Shear “has the unique skills, expertise and relationships to drive OpenAI forward,” adding that this was “the only way to advance and defend OpenAI’s mission.”
It is worth mentioning that earlier today, Microsoft CEO Nadella announced on X that OpenAI founders Sam Altman and Brockman will join Microsoft. The two will lead the new Microsoft AI team. Nadella said the Altman team will get all the resources they need and they will get it quickly.
Who is Emmett Shear?
Emmett Shear is a former CEO of Twitch, the live video streaming platform, and a partner at startup accelerator Y Combinator. He co-founded Twitch as Justin.tv in 2006, before its name was changed to Twitch in 2011. The platform quickly gained traction in the gaming community. It was acquired by Amazon for just under $1 billion in 2014. Shear stepped down as CEO of Twitch in March 2023 after more than 16 years at the company. Shear has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Yale University.
Why was Shear appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI?
OpenAI’s board of directors appointed Shear as interim CEO after a weekend of chaos at the company. Former CEO Sam Altman was ousted in a move that rocked the tech industry. Shear was part of the first batch of startup accelerator Y Combinator along with Altman. He is known as an outspoken advocate of safety in the development of artificial intelligence. Shear has shared a plan for the next steps at OpenAI, saying he would look to reform the startup’s management team and hire an independent investigator to dig into Altman’s departure.
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What are Shear’s qualifications for the role?
Shear’s appointment as OpenAI CEO caused confusion across Silicon Valley. This is largely because in the hours before the announcement there were reports indicating that Altman might be reappointed. There were also questions about what Shear’s track record at Twitch might indicate about his leadership at OpenAI. However, some sources have given a mixed review of his suitability for the role. A senior Twitch employee, who worked with Shear for a number of years, described him as “highly intelligent but socially awkward” and not the best communicator. However, the same employee also said that Shear has an ethical core and that the move to OpenAI makes a lot of sense for him.
What are Shear’s plans for OpenAI?
Shear has shared a plan for the next steps at OpenAI. He said he would look to reform the startup’s management team. Also, he would hire an independent investigator to dig into Altman’s departure. He will also work to make sure OpenAI does not lose customers and partners. This is the core of how it generates revenues. Shear said that OpenAI will “reform the management and leadership team in light of recent departures into an effective force to drive results for our customers.”
Shear said
“I have a three point plan for the next 30 days: – Hire an independent investigator to dig into the entire process leading up to this point and generate a full report. – Continue to speak to as many of our employees, partners, investors, and customers as possible, take good notes, and share the key takeaways. – Reform the management and leadership team in light of recent departures into an effective force to drive results for our customers.”
Conclusion
Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch and a partner at startup accelerator Y Combinator, has been appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI after the ousting of former head Sam Altman. Shear is known for his advocacy of safety in the development of artificial intelligence. He has also shared a plan for the next steps at OpenAI. He said he would look to reform the startup’s management team. Furthermore, he also claims he will hire an independent investigator to dig into Altman’s departure. There are some mixed reviews of his suitability for the role. However, Shear’s ethical core and experience in the tech industry make him a good fit for the position. What do you think about Emmett Shear and his new role as interim CEO of OpenAI? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below
Author Bio
Efe Udin is a seasoned tech writer with over seven years of experience. He covers a wide range of topics in the tech industry from industry politics to mobile phone performance. From mobile phones to tablets, Efe has also kept a keen eye on the latest advancements and trends. He provides insightful analysis and reviews to inform and educate readers.
