Ilya Sutskever did not attend OpenAI’s party celebrating Sam Altman’s return as CEO

• Sam Altman was re-appointed CEO of OpenAI on Tuesday night.
• Relieved employees threw an impromptu party at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.Sutskever was not present.
• Sutskever’s lawyer told BI, “Ilya wants what is best for the company.”

Ilya Sutskever could not be found. Tuesday night, OpenAI staff threw an impromptu party to celebrate the return of Sam Altman as CEO.

According to two people who attended, OpenAI’s chief scientist, co-founder, and board member, who was a key participant in Altman’s sudden ouster last week, did not attend the festivities. The Information broke the story about the party.

An OpenAI representative declined to comment. Alex Weingarten of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, who chairs the firm’s litigation practice, told BI: “You shouldn’t read anything into the fact that Ilya was not at the party last night.”

“Ilya wants what is best for the company and has been very clear that what is best is having Sam back as CEO,” she said.

Sutskever was directly involved in Altman’s abrupt removal as CEO by OpenAI’s board, of which he was a member, last Friday. He is the one who informed Altman, during a Google Meet call, that he was effectively fired. Sutskever then addressed employees on Sunday, when yet another interim CEO was appointed by the board, providing employees with two official explanations for why Altman was forced out at all, according to BI. It sparked an open revolt among employees, with nearly all threatening to quit if Altman did not return.

Sutskever made his first public statement about the situation as Altman continued to negotiate a possible return to the company he co-founded, as reported by The Verge and other outlets. He expressed “regret” for participating in what he called “the board’s actions.”

With Altman now back in charge, a new smaller board in place, and new members on the way, employees are unsure whether Sutskever will return at all. Despite his actions against Altman, he is still respected within OpenAI. At the company, he was dubbed “the galaxy brain” by one of the employees.

Another person familiar with both men believes Sutskever could return and mend fences, though this is unlikely.

“If Sam thinks it’s what’s ultimately best for the company, that’s what will happen,” said the individual in question. According to the source, Greg Brockman, the president of OpenAI and another co-founder who resigned in solidarity with Altman, is less gracious. Brockman considers himself “extremely betrayed.” However, the individual stated, “If he sees the utility, he will get on board.”