[jdminhbg]

The article says Sutskever was blindsided by the rank-and-file being on Sam's side. Presumably he thought the outcome was going to be business as more-or-less usual but with Murati or someone as CEO and then panicked when that didn't happen.

[ethbr1]

Or someone said "If you don't switch and back me, I am going to fight every bit of your compensation. Or you can back me and leave with favorable terms."

Panic is a less likely driver.