Before Emmett Shear was selected as OpenAI ex-CEO Sam Altman's successor, the AI startup had approached Microsoft-owned GitHub's ex-CEO Nat Friedman, who refused to accept the offer, The Information reported. OpenAI's board offered the role to Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang too, who also reportedly refused it. OpenAI had initially appointed CTO Mira Murati as interim CEO before Shear's appointment.