Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has been ousted by the company’s board after researchers alerted the board to a potentially dangerous AI discovery called Q* (pronounced Q-Star). Q* could radically improve artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning and could be considered a major breakthrough in the development of general artificial intelligence, reports Reuters.
One of the peculiarities of generative AI is that it bases its responses on information it has learned previously, so the more data that is input into a model, the better it will be. However, modern AI technologies do not actually possess cognitive capabilities and are unable to reason their decisions in the same way that humans do.
Q* is believed to be a significant breakthrough in the field of general artificial intelligence (AGI), an autonomous system that can reason its decisions and thus compete with humans in various tasks or even disciplines. Q* is said to have particularly notable capabilities in solving mathematical problems, which are typically defined by singular correct answers, indicating a significant progression in AI reasoning and cognitive capabilities.
The AI model has demonstrated proficiency in solving mathematical problems at a level comparable to elementary school students, which is quite significant. Such advances suggest that Q* could have far-reaching implications and applications in various fields that require reasoning and decision-making.
However, the advent of Q* has also raised concerns regarding the potential risks and ethical implications of this powerful AI technology. Researchers and scientists in the AI community have warned about the dangers associated with the rapid advancement of AI capabilities without fully understanding its impact. The development of Q* could have become a focal point in the ongoing discussion at OpenAI about the balance between AI innovation and responsible development.
As a result, several OpenAI researchers wrote a letter to the board, highlighting the discovery of an AI model they believed could pose a significant threat to humanity. This letter is considered a crucial factor that led to the board’s decision to dismiss Altman, citing a lack of confidence in his leadership, despite his contributions to the company and the field of generative AI. However, a collective threat of resignation from more than 700 employees, who showed solidarity with Altman and considered joining Microsoft, caused the board to reconsider their decision on the ousted CEO.
OpenAI, when contacted by Reuters, acknowledged the existence of the Q* project and the letter. However, the company avoided commenting on the specifics of the situation or the veracity of media reports.