OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research lab, faced a significant upheaval following a powerful AI discovery, as reported by Reuters. Ahead of CEO Sam Altman’s four-day exile, staff researchers sent a letter to the board of directors, warning of an AI algorithm that could potentially threaten humanity. This letter, along with other factors, led to Altman’s ouster, despite his status as a prominent figure in generative AI.
The letter, which Reuters could not review, was part of a series of grievances that culminated in Altman’s firing. More than 700 employees had threatened to resign in solidarity with Altman, who was backed by Microsoft. OpenAI, while declining to comment on the specifics, acknowledged the existence of the project named Q* and the letter in an internal message.
Q*, as described by sources, might represent a breakthrough in OpenAI’s pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), capable of surpassing human abilities in economically valuable tasks. This new model, despite currently performing math at a grade-school level, has shown promise in solving mathematical problems, sparking optimism about its future capabilities.
Researchers at OpenAI view mastering mathematics as a critical step in AI development, as it requires reasoning skills akin to human intelligence. This advancement could potentially be applied to novel scientific research. The letter to the board highlighted the AI’s potential dangers, reflecting ongoing concerns in the scientific community about the risks posed by highly intelligent machines.
OpenAI’s “AI scientist” team, formed by merging earlier groups, is working on optimizing AI models for enhanced reasoning and scientific work. Under Altman’s leadership, OpenAI made significant strides, including the development of ChatGPT, drawing substantial investment and computing resources from Microsoft.
Altman, who recently hinted at major advances in AI at a global summit, was fired by the board a day after his speech. The incident underscores the complex balance between AI innovation and ethical considerations in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
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