The recent history of OpenAI, a leading company in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and creator of ChatGPT, has been marked by drama that could well be the script of a Netflix series or movie or another streaming platform.

The crisis reached its climax with the firing and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman, president of the company and a key figure in the development of ChatGPT, and was exacerbated by the controversy surrounding the enigmatic Q Star or Q* project. However, there are important precedents to this crisis.

An important aspect was the debate between the catastrophists and the pragmatists in the world of AI. This conflict reflected the tension between the original conception of OpenAI as a non-profit organization and its evolution into one of Silicon Valley’s most valuable startups.

The controversy intensified with the development of a mysterious and potentially revolutionary project known as Q* or Q-Star.

A letter that caused chaos in OpenAI

A letter and an AI algorithm were key developments before the OpenAI board ousted Sam Altman, the prodigy of General Artificial Intelligence (AGI), two sources told Reuters.

This letter, which detailed the skill and potential danger of AGI, was a key factor in Altman’s temporary ouster. The discussion about the risks posed by highly intelligent machines and their potential impact on humanity has been a long-standing debate in the scientific community.

Sam Altman, a central figure in the development of ChatGPT, played a crucial role in attracting significant investments and computing resources from Microsoft, bringing OpenAI closer to General Artificial Intelligence (AGI). Prior to his dismissal, his intervention at a summit of world leaders in San Francisco, where he spoke of imminent advances in AI, raised alarms about his intentions regarding the Q* project.

Elon Musk, the best supporting actor

During the crisis, billionaire Elon Musk disseminated from X (formerly Twitter) a letter from supposed former OpenAI employees criticizing Altman and his ally Greg Brockman.

In this document, Altman and Brockman were accused of deception and manipulation, questioning their intentions and the prioritization of the benefit of humanity in their efforts to achieve AGI.

“We implore the board of directors to stand firm in its commitment to OpenAI’s original mission and not succumb to the pressures of lucrative interests. The future of artificial intelligence and the well-being of humanity depend on their unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and transparency,” part of the letter disseminated by Elon Musk on his X account states.

It should be remembered that Musk contributed to the creation of OpenAI in December 2015. His participation was motivated by his interest in promoting and developing artificial intelligence technologies safely and beneficially for humanity. OpenAI was established as a non-profit organization, with the aim of collaborating and freely sharing its research with the world, something Musk considered essential to counteract possible risks associated with the development of advanced or general AI and to prevent it from being dominated by a few powerful actors. (In particular, OpenAI emerged with the intention of being an open-source counterweight to Google).

However, Elon Musk’s relationship with OpenAI changed over time. In 2018, Musk left the OpenAI board of directors, although he continued to donate and support the organization. His departure was mainly due to a conflict of interest, as Tesla, another of his companies, began to intensify its own work in artificial intelligence for its autonomous vehicles.

What is Q* or Q-Star project?

There is not much information about Q* or Q-Star except for the information published by Reuters and the opinion of some AI specialists on the subject.

According to the agency, Q Star is an OpenAI initiative that focuses on the development of General Artificial Intelligence (AGI). This project has gained relevance due to its potential to significantly advance the field of AI.

According to Reuters sources, Q Star could reproduce mathematical thinking, a capacity traditionally considered exclusive to human intelligence. This implies that AI could carry out complex reasoning and be applied in fields such as innovative scientific research.

YOU CAN READ: Q Star. What is the AGI by OpenAI Q* project and why should you care?

What is General Artificial Intelligence AGI?

General Artificial Intelligence refers to a type of AI capable of understanding, learning, and applying its intelligence to a wide range of tasks, similar to human intelligence. Unlike conventional AI, which focuses on specific tasks like voice recognition or language translation, AGI would have the ability to perform diverse activities with contextual and adaptive understanding.

OpenAI, the root of fear

The crisis at OpenAI was triggered in part by the tension between catastrophic and pragmatic visions of the future of AGI. The dismissal and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman triggered the drama.

The controversy intensified with the struggle between the original vision of OpenAI as a non-profit company and its transformation into a high-value startup in Silicon Valley.

The development of the Q Star project has sparked widespread debate about the ethical and security implications of AI.

The possibility that an AI reproduces mathematical thinking and carries out complex reasoning raises questions about the limits and regulation of these advanced technologies. The scientific community and the general public wonder about the potential risks that these highly intelligent machines could pose to humanity.

On the other hand, there are voices that discredit activists whose vision points to catastrophe from the irruption of General Artificial Intelligence.

An open ending and post-credits scenes

The trajectory of OpenAI in artificial intelligence and its Q Star project is a reminder that AI is not only a technological issue but also a deeply human and ethical issue.

The debate around AGI is crucial at a time when these technologies are advancing at an unprecedented pace. The story of OpenAI, with its twists and controversies, has been a reflection of the complex and fascinating interactions between technology, ethics, and society in the modern era.

This is not a Netflix series or movie, but it could be one of the streaming platform’s corporate thrillers. The script would have an open ending and one or more post-credit scenes, where many questions remain, most still unanswered.

A timeline of chaos

Here is a timeline of the events:

• Thursday, November 16: Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, plans the dismissal of Sam Altman, proposing Mira Murati as interim CEO.
• Friday, November 17: The OpenAI board of directors dismisses Altman in a video call, with Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, initially absent. After the dismissal, Brockman resigns in solidarity. Microsoft learns of the dismissal and expresses its surprise and discontent.
• Saturday, November 18: Altman negotiates with Microsoft to create a new AI company. The OpenAI board considers the possibility of reinstating Altman following pressure from Microsoft and other investors.
• Sunday, November 19: Efforts to reincorporate Altman and Brockman are suspended. Altman will not return as CEO of OpenAI, and Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch, is appointed new interim CEO.
• Monday, November 20: Confirmation that Altman will not return as CEO prompts a mass exodus from OpenAI. Microsoft announces the hiring of Altman and Brockman to lead a new AI research team.
• Wednesday, November 22: Sam Altman is reappointed CEO of OpenAI. Also joining the board of directors are Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce; Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary; and Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora.