Mira Murati's Deposition Illuminates Sam Altman's Ouster from OpenAI

The week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 saw the artificial intelligence industry gripped by an unprecedented corporate drama: the abrupt ouster of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The initial, strikingly vague explanation cited Altman's "not consistently candid in his communications with the board." Now, through witness testimony and trial exhibits in the ongoing Musk v. Altman legal battle, the public is finally gaining a concrete look behind the scenes of that tumultuous weekend, with much of the focus landing on former CTO Mira Murati and her pivotal, yet seemingly contradictory, role. The power struggle unfolded largely in public view, a rare occurrence for such high-stakes corporate maneuvers. OpenAI's blog post announcing Altman's dismissal immediately fueled a flurry of conspiracy theories on X. Simultaneously, an online campaign saw hundreds of OpenAI employees posting hearts and the phrase "OpenAI is nothing without its people" in support of Altman's reinstatement. Other executives and AI industry leaders also publicly backed him, while rumors swirled about the true impetus behind the board's decision, which allegedly stemmed from a pattern of lying or omission by Altman regarding safety processes, his ownership stake in OpenAI's startup fund, or the release of certain tools. Throughout this public spectacle, Mira Murati, then OpenAI's CTO, appeared to be everywhere. Initially appointed interim CEO, she quickly ceded the position to outsider Emmett Shear. Publicly, Murati expressed support for Altman's return. However, her recent deposition reveals a more complex narrative: she was reportedly instrumental in initiating internal conversations about concerns surrounding Altman. By some accounts, Murati funneled significant information—including screenshots, text messages, and allegations of mismanagement during Altman’s time at Y Combinator—to cofounder Ilya Sutskever, who subsequently presented these concerns to the OpenAI board in a detailed 52-page memo. Former board member Helen Toner confirmed that Murati and Sutskever's concerns materially advanced the board's own regarding Altman's deceit, resistance to oversight, and manipulation of processes. On November 16, 2023, four members of OpenAI’s board—Toner, Sutskever, Adam D’Angelo, and Tasha McCauley—unanimously signed the document terminating Altman’s employment and naming Murati as interim CEO. Despite her crucial role in the lead-up to his ouster, Murati almost immediately seemed to switch her support to Altman. Text messages exchanged over a 14-hour period between Murati and Altman on Sunday evening and Monday morning reveal her efforts to understand and potentially reverse the situation. When Altman asked for a directional update, Murati responded, "Directionally very bad. Sam this is very bad," adding that the board was convinced of their decision and had explained "all the reasons and the issues with you and why you can’t be CEO." Further texts show Murati informing Altman that the board wanted a "new ceo in place tonight (not me," referencing "rando Twitch guy" Emmett Shear. Crucially, Murati also reached out to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was firmly on Altman's side, expressing her hope that Nadella could "help undo this." She also indicated her unwillingness to endorse the board's public statement defending their decision. Murati’s testimony, therefore, paints a vivid picture of the intense internal machinations and the shifting loyalties that characterized one of the most dramatic periods in the history of a leading AI company.