The decision to oust CEO Sam Altman came after OpenAI received a warning from staff researchers about an AI discovery that could potentially harm humanity, sources told Reuters.

The controversy includes a dispute over a new AI model called Q*. It is reportedly capable of solving only basic math problems but shows promising advancements toward artificial general intelligence.

Though Altman has now been reinstated as CEO, his removal led to around 700 employees threatening to resign and join Microsoft.