Sam Altman's abrupt ouster from OpenAI in November 2023 stemmed from board concerns about his lack of candor, but recently released deposition testimony from former CTO Mira Murati provides the clearest picture yet of what actually triggered his removal.
The details emerged through court filings in Elon Musk's lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI. Murati's deposition reveals specific instances where the board believed Altman misrepresented facts during critical discussions about the company's direction and governance. The tension centered on Altman's push to shift OpenAI's structure in ways the board questioned, along with disagreements over how transparent he was being about his own conflicts of interest.
Board members, including chief chair Bret Taylor, grew increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as incomplete or misleading information. This wasn't a sudden decision. The frustration built over weeks as Altman allegedly withheld details about proposed business arrangements and strategic pivots. When the board finally acted, removing Altman on November 17, 2023, they cited his communication failures as the core reason.
Murati's testimony underscores a fundamental governance breakdown. She described board meetings where Altman presented plans without full disclosure of implications or competing considerations. The CTO witnessed firsthand how this pattern eroded trust between the CEO and directors responsible for overseeing the company.
The ouster lasted five days. Altman was reinstated after overwhelming internal pressure, a vote by most board members to reverse the decision, and public outcry from OpenAI staff threatening to quit. The quick reversal suggested the board faced stronger institutional pressure than the documented communication issues.
What the Murati deposition clarifies is this: The board didn't remove Altman over a single incident or philosophical disagreement about AI safety. They removed him over what they