TLDR: New details have emerged from a recent deposition, revealing that OpenAI’s board considered a merger with rival AI firm Anthropic just one day after the abrupt firing of CEO Sam Altman in November 2023. The proposal, which would have seen Anthropic take over OpenAI’s leadership, was initiated amidst intense internal turmoil and a quest for stability but ultimately collapsed due to practical obstacles. This revelation, stemming from former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever’s testimony, has reignited public feuds between Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
In a significant disclosure from a recently unsealed October 2025 deposition, former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever has revealed that the company’s board explored a dramatic merger with rival artificial intelligence startup Anthropic in the immediate aftermath of CEO Sam Altman’s abrupt dismissal in November 2023. This revelation sheds new light on the extraordinary measures considered during one of the most tumultuous periods in OpenAI’s history.
According to Sutskever’s testimony, which is part of Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, discussions for a potential merger with Anthropic were initiated on November 18, 2023 – a mere day after Altman and President Greg Brockman were removed from their positions. Board member Helen Toner reportedly either reached out to or was contacted by Anthropic, engaging in early talks with Anthropic co-founders Dario and Daniela Amodei. The proposal included Anthropic potentially taking over the leadership of OpenAI.
Sutskever, a key figure in OpenAI’s founding and the board that orchestrated Altman’s initial ouster, stated in his deposition, “I was very unhappy about the idea.” He noted that other board members, particularly Toner, were “a lot more supportive” of the plan. The board’s contemplation of such a significant consolidation underscored the depth of the crisis they faced, driven by internal tensions and the intense competitive pressures within the rapidly evolving AI sector. The move was seen as a desperate attempt to regain stability and direction for the company.
However, the proposed merger quickly collapsed due to what Sutskever described as “practical obstacles.” The idea was particularly striking given Anthropic’s origins; it was founded in 2021 by the Amodei siblings, who had previously departed OpenAI over disagreements concerning AI safety and corporate direction, positioning Anthropic as a more safety-focused alternative.
The November 2023 leadership crisis at OpenAI was marked by unprecedented chaos. Altman’s firing triggered a massive backlash, with over 700 of OpenAI’s approximately 770 employees threatening to resign unless he was reinstated. Coupled with immense pressure from major investor Microsoft, the board ultimately reversed its decision, reinstating Altman as CEO and Brockman as President by November 22, 2023, under a reconstituted board. Sutskever himself later departed OpenAI in May 2024 to establish his own AI venture, Safe Superintelligence Inc.
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These new details have also fueled a renewed public feud between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter). Musk has accused Altman of theft and implied a deviation from OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission, while Altman countered by alleging that Musk had previously sought for Tesla to acquire OpenAI. The revelations from Sutskever’s deposition provide critical context to the internal battles that nearly reshaped the landscape of artificial intelligence development.
