ChatGPT maker OpenAI sacks CEO Sam Altman

US-based artificial intelligence (AI) research company OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman will step down from his role, the company announced on Friday in a blog post.

The firm's board of directors said Altman "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities."

"The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," it added.

Altman, 38, who served as the firm's CEO since 2020, said on X that his time at OpenAI was "transformative" for him personally, adding, "most of all i loved working with such talented people. will have more to say about what's next later."

OpenAI said Mira Murati, the company's chief technology officer, will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately.

"A member of OpenAI's leadership team for five years, Mira has played a critical role in OpenAI's evolution into a global AI leader. She brings a unique skill set, understanding of the company's values, operations, and business, and already leads the company's research, product, and safety functions," the firm said.

The company said it is conducting a formal search for a permanent CEO.

OpenAI introduced GPT-4 Turbo earlier this month, its most powerful AI to date.