After Sam Altman fiasco, Microsoft picks Dee Templeton as Its OpenAI board observer

Microsoft executive Dee Templeton has joined OpenAI’s board as a nonvoting observer as part of a boardroom overhaul following the brief ouster of CEO Sam Altman.

Dee Templeton, a Microsoft executive, has joined OpenAI's board as a nonvoting observer as part of a boardroom overhaul following the ouster of CEO Sam Altman. (REUTERS)

Microsoft Corp. executive Dee Templeton has joined OpenAI's board as a nonvoting observer, according to a person familiar with the matter, as part of a broader boardroom overhaul following the brief ouster of the startup's chief executive officer (CEO) Sam Altman. Templeton has worked at Microsoft for more than 25 years and is the company's vice president for technology and research partnerships and operations, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has already begun attending board meetings, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters. OpenAI and Microsoft declined to comment. 

Days after OpenAI's board ousted Sam Altman as CEO in November, the startup agreed to reinstate him, replace all but one of its directors and give a nonvoting observer seat to Microsoft, its biggest investor. OpenAI's current directors are Bret Taylor, the former co-CEO of Salesforce Inc.; Larry Summers, the former US Treasury secretary; and Adam D'Angelo, a holdover from the previous board and the CEO of question-and-answer site Quora Inc.

We are now on WhatsApp. Click to join.

Altman previously said a new board will be selected “fairly quickly.” He did not specify how many people will eventually be part of the group, but said it will be “significantly enlarged” from the current number. OpenAI has faced some criticism for not having any women on the initial board. 

Templeton joined Microsoft in 1998 as its first female technical employee at the company's New Zealand office, according to her LinkedIn profile. In her current role, she reports to Microsoft's chief technology officer and leads a team managing some of the company's technical partnerships, including its work with OpenAI. 

The Information previously reported Templeton was one of the people in consideration for the board role.

Microsoft has committed to invest some $13 billion in OpenAI and integrated its products into its core businesses, quickly becoming the AI leader among big tech firms. But Microsoft, like other investors, was caught off guard by the OpenAI board's decision to oust Altman. 

In late November, after Altman was reinstated, Microsoft President Brad Smith told reporters that the changes to OpenAI's corporate governance “are giving us more confidence.” But in taking an observer position on the board, Microsoft could also add to scrutiny of its close relationship with the startup. US and UK regulators are examining Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI and whether it may violate antitrust laws.

Also, read these top stories today:

Sam Altman may not attend CES 2024, but that does not mean it will be short of movers and shakers.

The generative AI fever Altman's startup set off last year will be on full display as gadget makers race to find consumer uses for the technology.

Some interesting details in this article. Check it out here. 

Big Tech Breakthrough by China?

A new laptop by Huawei has set alarm bells ringing of a new chip breakthrough by China.

Know the truth here. 

If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.

Big setback for YouTube over employees!

The court just sided with the staff.

Jump in here. 

Found it interesting? Go on, and share it with everyone you know.

One more thing! HT Tech is now on WhatsApp Channels! Follow us there so you never miss any update from the world of technology. ‎To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here to join now!