OpenAI Chaos: Near-Merger with Anthropic Revealed

Former OpenAI board members are describing an "extremely risky" near-merger with arch-rival Anthropic. This potential deal came during the chaotic period after CEO Sam Altman's firing. Helen Toner, a former board member, testified that a late-night call discussed a merger where Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, would have led OpenAI. Toner considered it an option among difficult choices, especially since OpenAI's entire executive team was threatening to resign. Mira Murati, OpenAI's head of technology, was expected to stabilize the company but became unwilling to serve as interim CEO. This pushed the board to consider more extreme options. Another former board member, Tasha McCauley, said Murati got cold feet after employees revolted over Altman's firing. Murati herself testified that OpenAI was at "catastrophic risk of falling apart." This information emerged during Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, where he alleges a betrayal of the company's founding contract. These details offer a look into the internal turmoil at a major AI company.