Introducing Emmett Shear: OpenAI’s New Interim CEO

In a surprising turn of events, OpenAI’s board has opted for a change in leadership, appointing former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear as the interim CEO, rather than reinstating Sam Altman following his unexpected dismissal. The decision to select Shear as the interim CEO comes after extensive negotiations with Altman failed to yield a resolution.

Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI and a member of the board, confirmed that Shear will assume the role of interim CEO, effectively replacing Mira Murati, who was previously aligned with Altman.

The decision to replace Murati comes shortly after she extended an invitation to Altman to meet with OpenAI executives at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.

Emmett Shear brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having co-founded Twitch and its predecessor, Justin.tv. He served as Twitch’s CEO until March of this year. Shear’s journey in the tech industry began when he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Yale University in 2005.

In addition to his leadership role at Twitch, Shear also served as a part-time partner at Y Combinator starting in June 2011, where he provided guidance and support to startups within each batch. His contributions earned him recognition on Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in 2012.

Shear’s entrepreneurial endeavors date back to 2005 when he, alongside Justin Kan, launched Kiko Calendar, an online calendar app built on Ajax technology. Despite facing challenges, including competition from Google Calendar, Shear and Kan eventually sold the company on eBay.

The appointment of Emmett Shear marks a significant development for OpenAI and signals a departure from the recent leadership changes prompted by Altman’s dismissal. The board’s decision underscores its commitment to charting a new course under Shear’s leadership, closing the chapter on Altman’s tenure following concerns about communication transparency.