OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Fired After Warning of AI Threat
On Friday, OpenAI’s board of directors made the decision to fire CEO Sam Altman, following a letter from staff researchers warning of a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) discovery that they believed could pose a threat to humanity. The previously unreported letter and AI algorithm, referred to as Q* (pronounced Q-Star), was a key factor in Altman’s dismissal, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The letter, which Reuters was unable to review, prompted the board to take action against Altman, who is a well-known figure in the field of generative AI. Altman’s firing led to more than 700 employees threatening to quit and join backer Microsoft in solidarity with their ousted leader before Altman’s eventual return on Tuesday.
According to one source, the letter about the AI breakthrough called Q* was a catalyst for the board’s decision to remove Altman from his position. The AI discovery, which some believe could be a significant advancement in OpenAI’s quest for superintelligence, also known as artificial general intelligence (Time.news), has raised concerns about the potential impact on humanity.
While OpenAI defines Time.news as AI systems that are smarter than humans, the capabilities of Q* and its potential implications have not been independently verified. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the new model showed promise in solving mathematical problems, although its current capabilities are likened to those of a grade-school student.
In response to inquiries about the matter, OpenAI declined to comment. The researchers who wrote the letter also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It remains to be seen how the removal of Altman from his position as CEO will impact the direction and focus of OpenAI as it continues to pursue advancements in the AI field.