OpenAI’s Ineffective Altruists vs. Sam Altman

Corporate power struggles aren’t rare, and most companies survive them. But the OpenAI board’s sudden ouster of CEO Sam Altman last week looks increasingly like a misguided kamikaze run. It’s hard to see who benefits from the melodrama besides opponents of innovation.

News of Mr. Altman’s removal late Friday shocked Silicon Valley. Mr. Altman helped launch OpenAI in 2015 with the mission of responsibly developing artificial intelligence to benefit humanity. He has since become the technology’s public face, with media appearances and testimony to Congress.