The week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 was the AI industry's biggest soap opera moment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted from his role at ChatGPT maker, OpenAI, due to ‘not consistently candid in his communications with the board.’ But behind the public theatrics, witness testimony and trial exhibits are revealing a more complex tale of internal strife.

Mira Murati, former CTO, had receipts – but they mostly confused her own story. She was initially made interim CEO before stepping aside for outsider Emmett Shear. Within days, Altman was back in charge, only to be ousted again. Murati’s role as the instigator behind Altman’s ouster is now clear: she provided evidence of deceit and mismanagement.

Throughout it all, one character seemed ubiquitous: Mira Murati. In 78 text messages exchanged over a tumultuous weekend, Murati discussed with Altman whether his reinstatement was possible. She warned Altman that the board’s decision was ‘directionally very bad’ and even suggested he might need to leave if they were preparing for 'crazy lawsuits.'

The drama is not just about personalities but signals a wider issue within AI companies. As Murati switched her support back to Altman, it highlighted the internal conflicts that can arise in high-stakes tech environments. The ousting of Altman and the rise of Murati point towards a changing dynamic at OpenAI.