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OpenAI Says Ousted CEO Sam Altman to Return to Company behind ChatGPT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence' on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File photo
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence' on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File photo
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OpenAI Says Ousted CEO Sam Altman to Return to Company behind ChatGPT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence' on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File photo
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence' on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File photo

The ousted leader of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is returning to the company that fired him late last week, the latest in a saga that has shocked the artificial intelligence industry.
San Francisco-based OpenAI said in a statement late Tuesday: “We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board" made of former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo.
OpenAI’s previous board of directors, which included D'Angelo, had refused to give specific reasons for why it fired Altman on Friday, leading to a weekend of internal conflict at the company and growing outside pressure from the startup's investors.
Microsoft, which has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI and has rights to its technology, quickly moved to hire Altman on Monday, as well as another co-founder and former president, Greg Brockman, who had quit in protest after Altman's removal. That emboldened a threatened exodus of nearly all of the startup's 770 employees who signed a letter calling for the board's resignation and Altman's return.
Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott put out a call to the startup’s employees Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter: “Know that if needed, you have a role at Microsoft that matches your compensation and advances our collective mission.”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also made clear in a series of interviews Monday that he was still open to the possibility of Altman returning to OpenAI, so long as the startup's governance and board problems are solved.
“We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board,” Nadella posted on X late Tuesday. “We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.”
In his own post, Altman said that “with the new board and (with) Satya's support, I'm looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with (Microsoft)."
Co-founded by Altman as a nonprofit with a mission to safely build so-called artificial general intelligence that outperforms humans and benefits humanity, OpenAI later became a for-profit business but one still run by its nonprofit board of directors. It's not clear yet if the board's structure will change with its newly appointed members.
Nadella said Brockman, who was OpenAI's board chairman until Altman's firing, will also have a key role to play in ensuring OpenAI “continues to thrive and build on its mission.”
Hours earlier, Brockman returned to social media as if it were business as usual, touting a feature called ChatGPT Voice that was rolling out for free to everyone who uses the chatbot.
“Give it a try — totally changes the ChatGPT experience,” Brockman wrote, flagging a post from OpenAI's main X account that featured a demonstration of the technology playfully winking at recent turmoil.
“It’s been a long night for the team and we’re hungry. How many 16-inch pizzas should I order for 778 people,” the person asks, using the number of people who work at OpenAI. ChatGPT's synthetic voice responded by recommending around 195 pizzas, ensuring everyone gets three slices.
As for OpenAI's short-lived interim CEO Emmett Shear, the second interim CEO in the days since Altman's ouster, he posted on X that he was “deeply pleased by this result, after (tilde)72 very intense hours of work.”
“Coming into OpenAI, I wasn't sure what the right path would be,” Shear wrote. “This was the pathway that maximized safety alongside doing right by all stakeholders involved. I'm glad to have been a part of the solution.”

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Technology

Meta Settlement Opens New Front in Global Fight Over Social Media Harm

The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
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Meta Settlement Opens New Front in Global Fight Over Social Media Harm

The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)

Meta's move to restrict teenagers' use of social media in the US shows companies have tools to better protect young people online, Australian officials said on Thursday, while in the Philippines, an official said the US company had pledged to boost protection there too.

Meta's up to $18 billion settlement with nearly all US states over social media harm to teenagers has opened a new front in a global government fight to protect children and curb addiction to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Governments around the world are trying to curb children's access to harmful online content, including a world-first ban in Australia late last year on social media for children under 16.

Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells said in an email to Reuters that social media companies "have the tools at their disposal to protect ‌young people from ‌their addictive features but have chosen not to use them".

Meta agreed to pay up to $18 ‌billion ⁠over a decade ⁠and limit how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram under an agreement with nearly all US states to resolve claims that it designed those platforms to addict children. Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

The deal brings sweeping changes to Meta's Facebook and Instagram platforms in the United States, including imposing a default two-hour limit on its apps for users under the age of 18.

In South Korea, the media regulator said some of Meta's measures should be applied to young users worldwide, rather than just in specific markets. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said the government needed to review its potential impact for Mexico.

There were some early signs that the settlement could help other countries win similar measures.

Philippines Department of Information ⁠and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda told Reuters that both Meta and gaming platform Roblox had ‌pledged in a meeting on Thursday to tighten age verification processes in the ‌country, as well as expand parental controls and implement time limits on the social media.

The European Commission said it was waiting for Meta ‌to present changes to limit the addictive designs of its social networks.

The Commission already issued preliminary findings earlier this year that Meta ‌breached the Digital Services Act (DSA). In July, it said Facebook and Instagram should disable autoplay and endless scrolling by default, introduce screen-time breaks and change recommendation systems to reduce incentives to keep users engaged — measures that go beyond the US settlement.

In April, the Commission said Meta had failed to stop children under 13 from opening or maintaining accounts. The US settlement could make it harder for Meta to argue that tougher age-verification measures are impractical.

"We ‌have been very clear ... we expect proper screen time management, we expect proper parental control on these platforms. Meta knows ... the ball is in Meta's court," said spokesperson Thomas Regnier.

EXECUTION ISSUES

Enforcement ⁠of restrictions in Australia has, ⁠however, been patchy so far.

Early evidence suggests the law has been undermined by weak age-verification systems, with multiple studies, including from Australia's internet regulator, showing 80% of minors were still on social media months after the ban took effect in December. That prompted lawmakers to double the maximum fine and increase regulatory powers.

In Asia, countries including China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are also seeking tighter oversight of social media as well as curbs, including to block alleged scams, and in particular to protect children.

Australian class-action law firm Shine Lawyers said it was in discussions with Mark Lanier, a lawyer who worked on the California action against Meta, about a potential similar action.

"For years, families have been asking whether enough has been done to protect children from platform features designed to maximize engagement," said Shine Lawyers head of class actions Craig Allsopp.

"We are now examining whether similar legal issues arise in Australia, including whether Australian children and families may have claims connected to the design, operation and promotion of social media platforms. If Australian families have been affected, they deserve answers."

Technology

HUMAIN Project Gets a Boost as Al-Moammar Adds 200 MW to AI Data Center

Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on October 29, 2025. (HUMAIN)
Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on October 29, 2025. (HUMAIN)
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HUMAIN Project Gets a Boost as Al-Moammar Adds 200 MW to AI Data Center

Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on October 29, 2025. (HUMAIN)
Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company HUMAIN during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on October 29, 2025. (HUMAIN)

Al-Moammar Information Systems Co (MIS) announced on Wednesday that it received a letter of award from HUMAIN expanding the scope of a project to design and build a data center dedicated to AI technologies, increasing the project’s capacity from 50 megawatts (MW) to 250 megawatts.

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said the expanded scope involves designing and constructing additional data centers with a total capacity of 200 MW, to be implemented in phases.

MIS added that the total contract value following the increase to 250 MW exceeds 689% of the company’s total revenue for 2025.

MIS signed a contract with HUMAIN in March worth more than 155% of the company’s total revenue for 2024, covering the design and construction of a data center dedicated to AI technologies.

The company will commence the approved engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works for HUMAIN, while the parties complete procedures to finalize the contract, which is expected to be signed within two weeks.

The progress of the initial project has not been affected by the scope of expansion and that work is continuing according to the previously announced schedule. MIS will announce any material developments related to the project in due course, the statement noted.

The project comes as Saudi Arabia is rapidly scaling its data center and AI infrastructure to meet the growing use of AI and the rising demand from companies and institutions for computing capacity to build AI-powered products and services.

 

 

Technology

AI Opens New Market for Saudi Tech Companies

The words “artificial intelligence,” a keyboard and robotic hands are seen in this illustration. (Reuters)
The words “artificial intelligence,” a keyboard and robotic hands are seen in this illustration. (Reuters)
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AI Opens New Market for Saudi Tech Companies

The words “artificial intelligence,” a keyboard and robotic hands are seen in this illustration. (Reuters)
The words “artificial intelligence,” a keyboard and robotic hands are seen in this illustration. (Reuters)

Saudi technology companies are moving beyond digital transformation, tapping a new wave of spending on artificial intelligence, data centers, and digital infrastructure. The shift boosted the results of listed companies in the first half of 2026.

Companies in the Saudi Exchange’s software and services sector generated 12.99 billion riyals ($3.46 billion) in first-half revenue, up 14.7% from a year earlier. Combined net profit rose 4.73% to 2.14 billion riyals ($570 million).

The sector comprises seven listed companies. Six have fiscal years ending in December, while Saudi Azm’s fiscal year ends on June 30.

Five companies reported first-half net profits: Elm, Solutions, 2P, Al Moammar Information Systems, or MIS, and DBS. Arab Sea Information Systems posted a loss at the end of the period.

Solutions led the sector in revenue, generating about 6.24 billion riyals in the first half, up 9% year on year. Net profit rose 2.1% to 824 million riyals.

Elm ranked second, with revenue climbing 21.1% to 4.99 billion riyals. Profit exceeded 1.17 billion riyals, up 7.7% from a year earlier.

MIS placed third, with revenue jumping 28.2% to 910 million riyals from 709 million. Profit, however, fell 15.85 % to 55.6 million riyals from more than 66.13 million riyals a year earlier.

In the second quarter, the sector’s combined net profit fell 4.77 % to 1.058 billion riyals from 1.112 billion riyals a year earlier. Revenue rose 15.98% to 6.77 billion riyals from 5.84 billion.

Structural shift continues

G.WORLD Chief Executive Mohamed Hamdy Omar told Asharq Al-Awsat that the 14.7% revenue increase underscored the Saudi economy’s continued structural shift toward technology, data and digital services.

The results cover six listed companies with standard fiscal years and do not represent the entire Saudi technology market, he said. They nevertheless provide an important gauge of the sector’s direction.

The figures also align with the broader market. Saudi Arabia’s communications and information technology sector reached about 199 billion riyals by the end of 2025, recording a compound annual growth rate of 8% over the previous five years, according to reports by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

Omar identified three main drivers of revenue growth.

The first is continued growth in government and corporate spending on digital transformation, including technology infrastructure, managed services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and the development and operation of digital platforms.

Company results clearly reflect that trend. Revenue from solutions’ core communications and information technology services rose 19.6% in the first half, while Elm’s digital business revenue grew 22.31%.

The second driver is the widening use of digital services and platforms by government agencies, companies and individuals. This is lifting demand for digital systems and continuous operational services while strengthening recurring revenue models.

Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure supports that growth. Internet penetration is near universal, data consumption is rising, and the adoption of AI tools and cloud services is accelerating.

The third driver — and one set to play a bigger role — is investment in data and AI infrastructure and data centers.

The market is gradually moving beyond software and technology purchases toward investment in computing capacity, hosting, data processing and the infrastructure needed to run AI applications. That shift is creating a new layer of demand for local technology companies.

Omar said company performance revealed sharply different growth models across the sector.

Solutions and Elm remain its largest companies by revenue and profit, providing a strong and stable base. Smaller companies tell a different story.

MIS recorded robust first-half revenue growth of 28.2%, but its profit fell 15.85%, highlighting the need to protect margins while expanding.

Meanwhile, 2P posted profit growth. Arab Sea returned to profitability in the second quarter but still recorded a modest first-half loss.

Omar also pointed to MIS’s award of a data center hosting services contract from Future Artificial Intelligence Company, known as HUMAIN. Including value-added tax, the contract is worth more than 30% of MIS’s total 2025 revenue.

Its significance extends beyond MIS, he said. The award shows the scale of demand that AI and data center investments are beginning to generate for local companies capable of building and operating digital infrastructure.

That demand could attract more investment, bring new players into the market and encourage existing companies to expand in the coming years.

Omar expects the sector’s revenue momentum to continue in the second half of 2026, supported by sustained spending on digital transformation, data centers, AI, cloud computing and managed services.

But the real test will be more than winning revenue, he said. Companies must ensure that revenue translates into cash flow and sustainable profit margins.

Project cost management, technology talent retention, operating expense controls, working capital and financing costs, and the efficient execution of major contracts will separate companies that merely grow revenue from those that turn that growth into lasting shareholder value, he added.

Omar also expects more mergers and acquisitions across the sector.

He cited Elm’s full acquisition of Thiqah Business Services in April 2025 for about 3.4 billion riyals as a clear example of the push toward inorganic growth and broader digital capabilities and services.

Elm has said it aims for acquisitions to contribute about 20% of its income over the next five years, reinforcing expectations of continued dealmaking in the sector.