A deposition transcript from the lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI provides details on the internal board deliberations surrounding Sam Altman’s temporary removal in November 2023. Ilya Sutskever (former chief scientist) testified that he had considered Altman’s replacement for at least a year, though he did not consider his actions 'planning' as the move was not feasible earlier. Sutskever sent a 52-page memo to three independent board members—Adam D'Angelo, Helen Toner, and Tasha McCauley—alleging that Altman consistently lied and undermined executives. The memo, transmitted via a disappearing email service, explicitly recommended Altman’s termination.

Sutskever acknowledged that allegations in the memo regarding Altman and Greg Brockman were based entirely on secondhand information provided by Mira Murati. He admitted he did not seek to verify these claims with the individuals involved. Sutskever characterized the removal process as 'rushed,' attributing this to an inexperienced board that had limited engagement with day-to-day company operations. He noted that Toner and McCauley did not attend every board meeting in person, making it difficult for him to assess their familiarity with operations.

Following Altman’s initial ouster, the board explored a potential merger with Anthropic. Sutskever testified that he was 'very unhappy' about this proposal, though he recalled that board member Helen Toner was highly supportive of the idea. The plan stalled due to practical obstacles raised by Anthropic’s leadership. During subsequent meetings, executives warned that the company would be destroyed if Altman did not return; Sutskever testified that Helen Toner suggested such a outcome would be consistent with OpenAI's mission.

Sutskever also miscalculated the response of the staff, stating he did not expect employees to support Altman so strongly. Since leaving OpenAI in May 2024 to launch Safe Superintelligence, Sutskever retains a financial stake in OpenAI. During the 10-hour deposition, his lawyers blocked the disclosure of his specific financial interest, though he confirmed the value has increased since his departure. He also testified that he believes OpenAI is covering his legal fees for the ongoing litigation.

A deposition transcript from the lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI provides details on the internal board deliberations surrounding Sam Altman’s temporary removal in November 2023. Ilya Sutskever (former chief scientist) testified that he had considered Altman’s replacement for at least a year, though he did not consider his actions 'planning' as the move was not feasible earlier. Sutskever sent a 52-page memo to three independent board members—Adam D'Angelo, Helen Toner, and Tasha McCauley—alleging that Altman consistently lied and undermined executives. The memo, transmitted via a disappearing email service, explicitly recommended Altman’s termination.

Sutskever acknowledged that allegations in the memo regarding Altman and Greg Brockman were based entirely on secondhand information provided by Mira Murati. He admitted he did not seek to verify these claims with the individuals involved. Sutskever characterized the removal process as 'rushed,' attributing this to an inexperienced board that had limited engagement with day-to-day company operations. He noted that Toner and McCauley did not attend every board meeting in person, making it difficult for him to assess their familiarity with operations.

Following Altman’s initial ouster, the board explored a potential merger with Anthropic. Sutskever testified that he was 'very unhappy' about this proposal, though he recalled that board member Helen Toner was highly supportive of the idea. The plan stalled due to practical obstacles raised by Anthropic’s leadership. During subsequent meetings, executives warned that the company would be destroyed if Altman did not return; Sutskever testified that Helen Toner suggested such a outcome would be consistent with OpenAI's mission.

Sutskever also miscalculated the response of the staff, stating he did not expect employees to support Altman so strongly. Since leaving OpenAI in May 2024 to launch Safe Superintelligence, Sutskever retains a financial stake in OpenAI. During the 10-hour deposition, his lawyers blocked the disclosure of his specific financial interest, though he confirmed the value has increased since his departure. He also testified that he believes OpenAI is covering his legal fees for the ongoing litigation.