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On November 17, Sam Altman was unexpectedly removed from his position at OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, sparking discussions within the artificial intelligence community.
Altman’s removal brought attention to his ties with Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project focused on fair global wealth distribution. The project’s WLD token saw a significant spike in volatility following the recent news.
Will Sam Altman Return to OpenAI?
Sam Altman’s exit from OpenAI resulted from the board’s concerns about his lack of communication transparency and doubts about his leadership capabilities.
“OpenAI was deliberately structured to advance our mission: to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all humanity. The board remains fully committed to serving this mission. We are grateful for Sam’s many contributions to the founding and growth of OpenAI. At the same time, we believe new leadership is necessary as we move forward. As the leader of the company’s research, product, and safety functions, Mira is exceptionally qualified to step into the role of interim CEO. We have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead OpenAI during this transition period,” the board’s statement reads.
However, this decision has drawn criticism from influential stakeholders and investors, including Microsoft, advocating for his reinstatement. Recent reports have hinted at a potential comeback for Altman as the CEO at OpenAI, driven by investor pressure to reverse his unexpected departure.
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Some reports cite internal memos discussing efforts to bring Altman back, and other departed senior figures like Greg Brockman, the company’s president. Others suggest Altman might consider returning but insist on a revamped board and governance structure as a prerequisite for his reinstatement. Nonetheless, concrete information about this rumored return is scarce.
“We are still working towards a resolution and we remain optimistic. By resolution, we mean bringing back Sam, Greg, Jakub, Syzmon, Aleksander, and other colleagues and remaining in the place where people who want to work on AGI research, safety, products, and policy can do their best work,” OpenAI CSO Jason Kwon wrote in a memo.
Following the reports, Altman posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter) expressing fondness for the OpenAI team. This further fuels speculation about his potential re-engagement with the AI company.
What Will Happen to Worldcoin Price?
News of Sam Altman’s potential return to OpenAI has caused a more than 20% rally in the WLD token’s value, recovering from the previous sell-off.
Crypto traders noted that the price performance indicates uncertainty in the market, with sentiments changing alongside news and events.
“Whether Sam goes back to Open AI or not, he wins. Narrative, team, funds, Micorsoft, history all with him. WLD recovered & flirting with the only resistance, then kinda price discovery starts once Sam’s news is confirmed,” an experienced crypto analyst said.
Read more: What Is Worldcoin? A Guide to the Iris-Scanning Crypto Project
Since its launch, Worldcoin has faced regulatory scrutiny in various countries. These include Argentina, the UK, Kenya, France, and Germany over its data handling practices. Still, the company claims significant adoption rates.
The World App has surpassed 4 million downloads, making it the 6th most popular hot wallet globally, according to Coingecko. Additionally, the application boasts over 1 million monthly active users and has processed 22 million transactions within six months.