Formerly ousted OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, is set to return as the head of the artificial intelligence company, signaling a major shift in the industry. The announcement has not only solidified OpenAI’s leadership but has also led to a significant uptick in trading activity for Altman’s co-founded Worldcoin project, with WLD prices experiencing a notable pump.
related: OpenAI Reinstates Sam Altman as CEO After Employee Backlash
Altman’s Resurgence at OpenAI
On November 22, OpenAI revealed that an agreement in principle had been reached for Sam Altman’s return as CEO. The company, renowned for its ChatGPT AI bot, disclosed plans for a new initial board, featuring Bret Taylor as Chairman, along with Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo. Altman expressed his commitment to OpenAI’s mission, stating, “I love OpenAI, and everything I’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together.”
Altman explained that, despite briefly joining Microsoft, he concluded that returning to OpenAI was the best course of action. He expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Microsoft, emphasizing his eagerness to build on the existing strong partnership. The announcement marks the end of a turbulent period for the AI industry, with Altman having been ousted as CEO on November 17 due to tensions with the original board regarding the pace of AI development.
Worldcoin Experiences Price Surge
The news of Altman’s return has had a profound impact on the prices of Worldcoin (WLD). Over the past few hours, WLD prices have surged by 13%, rising from $2.20 to approximately $2.50, where it currently stands. The token experienced volatility over the weekend, dropping to $1.84 following Altman’s initial ouster. Despite this, WLD has seen a 36% increase over the past fortnight, although it remains down 24% from its all-time high of $3.30 in July.
related: Worldcoin (WLD) Price Soars on Rumors of Sam Altman’s OpenAI Comeback
A Glimpse into Worldcoin’s Journey
Altman is not only associated with OpenAI but is also a co-founder of Worldcoin, the project behind the World ID initiative, which utilizes retina scanning technology. Launched in July, Worldcoin aims to revolutionize identity verification. Altman’s return to OpenAI has evidently revitalized confidence in the Worldcoin project, reflected in the recent surge in token prices.
As the industry watches Altman’s return and the subsequent developments at OpenAI, it is clear that the dynamic relationship between major figures and innovative projects in the AI and cryptocurrency space continues to shape the landscape in unexpected ways.