Imported Article – 2026-04-09 14:53:07

A new investigation by The New Yorker has revisited one of Silicon Valley’s most dramatic boardroom shake-ups, reporting that internal allegations of deception played a central role in the brief removal of OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman in 2023.

According to the publication, the move to oust Altman was driven by concerns compiled by then chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, who assembled internal material including Slack conversations and human resources records into a set of confidential memos. These documents were reportedly shared with select board members and accused Altman of misleading both the board and senior leadership, including on matters linked to internal safety processes.

The New Yorker reported that one of the memos began with a list alleging a repeated pattern of behaviour, with “lying” cited as the first concern.

The report reconstructs the circumstances of Altman’s dismissal, stating that he was attending a Formula 1 event in Las Vegas when he was asked to join a video call with the board. During that call, he was informed that he was no longer an employee of OpenAI.

Soon after, the board publicly stated that Altman “was not consistently candid in his communications.” According to the investigation, this phrasing was linked to specific internal allegations outlined in the memos.

Altman’s removal triggered immediate pushback from within the company and its investors. The report said that hundreds of employees threatened to leave unless he was reinstated.

Within five days, Altman returned as Chief Executive Officer, alongside co-founder Greg Brockman. The board was later restructured, and Sutskever exited the company.

As part of the resolution, an independent review into Altman’s conduct was initiated.

While the review allowed Altman to continue in his role, The New Yorker reported that it did not fully endorse his conduct. No written report was published, and findings were delivered through oral briefings.

The investigation also traced similar concerns to Altman’s earlier roles. At his startup Loopt, senior employees reportedly asked the board on two occasions to remove him, citing issues related to transparency and leadership.

During his time at Y Combinator, multiple partners raised concerns about his focus on personal investments. According to the report, co-founder Paul Graham privately told colleagues that Altman had been “lying,” although both later maintained publicly that he was not fired.

Based on interviews with more than 100 individuals, the report said several sources questioned Altman’s approach to truth and authority.

One unnamed board member described him as “unconstrained by truth” and raised concerns about the consequences of such behaviour.

The report said Aaron Swartz had warned associates about Altman’s behaviour, at one point allegedly calling him “a sociopath.”

The report noted that these allegations have drawn attention because of OpenAI’s growing influence across sectors including healthcare, education, and automation, raising questions about leadership accountability at a company shaping widely used technologies.

First Published on April 9, 2026, 18:56:02 IST