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See Sam Altman's Frantic Texts After 2023 OpenAI Ouster - Business Insider
Mira Murati and Sam Altman shared a frantic text exchange during his brief 2023 ouster as CEO of OpenAI. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images, left; Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images, right. 2026-05-07T15:22:14.138Z Mira Murati and Sam Altman shared a frantic text exchange during his 2023 ouster as CEO of OpenAI. In the exchange, Altman pleads desperately for his job back as Murati tells him, "They don't want you." The text exchange was shown to jurors in the ongoing Musk v Altman civil trial in Oakland, California. She was the interim CEO. He was the newly ousted CEO. And in a stream of text messages spanning two days in November 2023, they had a lot to say to each other.Newly revealed evidence in the Musk v Altman trial shows the frantic texts that Mira Murati and Sam Altman shared during his brief ouster as CEO of OpenAI.The exchange shows Altman desperately pushing to return to the company he helped cofound — as Murati, who on the phone with board members, throws cold water on his comeback dreams. "They're convinced about their decision," she tells him. And when Altman asks, "for me to be fired? or some new thing?" she answers "Yes, for you to be gone."Here are the best portions of the historic exchange. Altman asks early in the exchange how "directionally" things are going. She answers "very bad." screen grab US District Court Murati and Altman's exchange begins at 5:43 p.m., Pacific Time, on November 11, 2023. Altman — apparently locked out of OpenAI's offices — asks Murati to "officially invite me to the office for a meeting.""I'm about to speak with them," she tells Altman.Some seven hours later — it's now nearly 2 a.m. on November 20 — Altman asks for an update. It's not good."Can you indicate directionally good or bad?" he asks, noting that "Satya" — Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, with whom he's meanwhile been speaking, is "concerned.""Directionally very bad," Murati answers, to which Altman responds, "ok." Altman offers to help "make it better" — even if that means he'll "just walk away." screen grab US District Court "What do you want to make it better? I'm still willing to walk away if that helps," Altman tells Murati as the text exchange continues.He worries in the exchange that the board may be "ramped up for crazy lawsuits against me," and pleads again to be heard by the board."They're convinced about their decision," she tells him. "For me to be fired? or some new thing?" he asks.She tells him, "Yes for you to be gone." Then Microsoft,...
In OpenAI trial, former technology chief says Altman sowed 'chaos ...
Item 1 of 2 Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati delivers testimony by video during Elon Musk's lawsuit trial over OpenAI's for-profit conversion at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, U.S., May 6, 2026 in a courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Vicki Behringer. [1/2]Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati delivers testimony by video during Elon Musk's lawsuit trial over OpenAI's for-profit conversion at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, U.S., May 6, 2026 in a... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read moreSummaryCompaniesMurati testified Altman was deceptive, fostered executive infightingMurati warned OpenAI risked collapse during leadership turmoilMusk seeks $150 billion in damages to fund nonprofit OpenAISAN FRANCISCO, May 6 (Reuters) - A former OpenAI technology chief testified on Wednesday in Elon Musk's lawsuit that CEO Sam Altman sowed distrust among top executives as the company forged ahead with developing and broadly deploying its powerful artificial intelligence software.“My concern was about Sam saying one thing to one person and completely the opposite to another person,” said Mira Murati, who was briefly CEO of OpenAI after its board temporarily forced out Altman in 2023. She said Altman was “creating chaos” and, at times, was deceptive with her and others. Sign up here.Murati’s recorded testimony was played in Oakland, California, federal court, in the second week of a trial.Musk, the world's richest person, sued OpenAI in 2024 on the grounds that it improperly became a for-profit company, abandoned charitable goals and should turn back into a nonprofit.If successful, Musk could benefit by hindering the commercial ambitions of a competitor to his own startup xAI, which is now part of SpaceX .MUSK SEEKING $150 BILLION IN DAMAGESThe trial could determine the future of OpenAI, which, as a leading AI firm, has tremendous influence over development of the advanced software and its deployment into schools, government agencies and businesses.Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, is seeking $150 billion in damages to be paid by OpenAI and investor Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab to benefit the startup’s charitable arm.Murati, who left OpenAI and has co-founded her own AI startup, said Altman pitted executives against one another and undermined her role as technology chief.But she said she wanted him to remain CEO, and pressed board members for a fuller justification for ousting him in 2023.“OpenAI was at catastrophic risk of falling apart,” Murati...
Mira Murati Says Sam Altman Was 'Creating Chaos' at OpenAI During Musk ...
Former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati testified in federal court on May 6 that CEO Sam Altman created distrust among senior executives as the company accelerated the development and deployment of its AI models Murati's recorded testimony was played in a federal courtroom in Oakland ...
Sam Altman's Texts To Mira Murati Show Frantic Discussions During ...
Newly-released text messages are continuing to shed light on the frenetic few days in which Sam Altman had been ousted from OpenAI. The exchange between Altman and then-CTO Mira Murati began on November 19, 2023 — two days after the board had abruptly fired Altman as CEO, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership.
