In a whirlwind of recognition and controversy, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, was honoured as Time magazine's 'CEO of the Year' for his remarkable contributions to the tech industry.
Under Altman's leadership, ChatGPT, launched in November 2022, swiftly crossed over 1 million users in just five days, marking a monumental milestone. However, amidst this success, the company faced a chaotic period.
OpenAI experienced a meteoric rise in revenue, soaring from $28 million in 2022 to a staggering $100 million monthly in 2023, largely attributed to ChatGPT's unprecedented success. Despite a volatile job market, OpenAI defied the trend, embarking on a hiring spree.
Additionally, the launch of GPT-4 in March 2023 solidified OpenAI's dominance, boasting advanced capabilities in image analysis and proficient coding across various programming languages.
However, Altman's leadership came under scrutiny, with reports of internal governance issues. Time revealed concerns among board members regarding Altman's management style, leading to his abrupt ousting on November 17. This action triggered employee backlash and threats to resign, resulting in a swift reinstatement of Altman after just five days of dramatic disorder, accompanied by board restructuring.
Altman, acknowledging the misunderstandings, expressed his commitment to the company's mission and welcomed an independent board review. Despite recognition, Altman's tenure remains overshadowed by internal issues, casting a cloud over OpenAI's technological strides.