Update Nov. 20, 2023: CNBC confirmed that Emmett Shear has taken over OpenAI following Sam Altman’s departure. The original story is included below.

Update Nov. 19, 2023: Multiple sources suggest that OpenAI’s board is discussing rehiring Sam Altman after firing him. Our original story remains below.

OpenAI has been hit with two high-profile departures. The company fired CEO Sam Altman on Friday, and co-founder and former board chair Greg Brockman announced his resignation on X (formerly Twitter). This news comes as a surprise and has left many wondering about the future of OpenAI.

Hours after the announcement of Altman’s departure, OpenAI unveiled a “leadership transition,” naming CTO Mira Murati as the interim CEO. Initially, it was stated that Brockman would step down as chairman but maintain his position at the company, reporting to the new CEO. However, Brockman’s subsequent decision to leave contradicts this earlier statement.

In a post on X, Brockman shared a message he sent to OpenAI staff:

The unexpected firing of Altman earlier on Friday marked a significant development for OpenAI, the company that played a pivotal role in igniting the current tech fascination with artificial intelligence, notably with the widespread popularity of ChatGPT. The board cited a loss of confidence in Altman’s ability to lead the organization, setting the stage for a tumultuous period for the prominent AI research lab.