Q*
A new AI breakthrough at OpenAI, reported by Reuters, that allows language models to perform mathematical reasoning. Speculated to be a key factor that concerned the board and led to Sam Altman's firing.
First Mentioned
1/8/2026, 4:23:53 AM
Last Updated
1/8/2026, 4:26:52 AM
Research Retrieved
1/8/2026, 4:26:52 AM
Summary
Q* is an unreleased OpenAI project that represents a potential breakthrough in artificial intelligence, specifically in the realm of mathematical reasoning and logical problem-solving. It is theorized to integrate Q-learning—a reinforcement learning technique where "Q" stands for quality—with search-based methods like Chain of Thought (CoT) to enhance the reliability and reasoning capabilities of AI models. The project became a focal point of public interest during the November 2023 leadership crisis at OpenAI, where it was speculated that the discovery of Q* triggered significant AI safety concerns for board member Ilya Sutskever. This internal friction contributed to the temporary removal of Sam Altman as CEO, an event that ultimately highlighted governance challenges and the tension between rapid technological advancement and safety protocols.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Status
Unreleased / Internal Project
Developer
OpenAI
Primary Field
Artificial Intelligence
Associated Concerns
AI Safety and Governance
Potential Milestone
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
Technical Components
Q-learning, Chain of Thought (CoT)
Timeline
- The OpenAI board fires CEO Sam Altman, an event later linked to internal concerns over the rapid development of Q* and AI safety. (Source: Document 53b39af3-c6ec-4159-8c45-2bf389908316)
2023-11-17
- Sam Altman is rehired as CEO of OpenAI following widespread employee support and pressure from Microsoft. (Source: Document 53b39af3-c6ec-4159-8c45-2bf389908316)
2023-11-22
- Public speculation and community discussions intensify regarding Q* as a potential path to AGI and its role in the board's decision-making. (Source: Web Search Results)
2023-11-23
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaQapanlı (Qaraağacı), Tartar
Qapanlı is a village in the municipality of Qaraağacı in the Tartar Rayon of Azerbaijan.
Web Search Results
- Q-star (Q*): What it is and what it could mean for the future of AI
thought (CoT). [...] In Q-learning, the 'Q' stands for 'quality,' which refers to the value or benefit of taking a certain action in a specific state. The agent is rewarded for good actions and penalized for bad ones. Through repeated trials and learning from these rewards and penalties, the agent gradually understands the best series of actions to achieve its goal. [...] words one by one, it gets a sense of the overall relevance and fittingness of an answer to the question at hand.
- What is Q*? And when we will hear more? - Community
## post by Rainey107577 on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by WeylandLabs on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by Browsergpts.com on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by Thiago on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by WeylandLabs on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by qrdl on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by jimalbarano on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by Sebb on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by jay85 on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by qrdl on Nov 22, 2023 ## post by qrdl on Nov 23, 2023 ## post by hollywoodsign on Nov 23, 2023 ## post by duocnv on Nov 23, 2023 [...] ## Load more posts below [...] ## post by m4callik on Nov 22, 2023 m4callik Rainey107577 Nov 2023 One does not mistakenly keep board members ‘out of the loop’ re: discovering AGI and possibly the biggest breakthrough in human civilization ## post by Rainey107577 on Nov 22, 2023 Rainey107577 Nov 2023 Can of worms for sure… Real time! I wonder what I will wake up to tomorrow. But the currant chatter feels like ripple echos to me. Probably an announcement on Q\ before Christmas.
- Q - Wikipedia
| ISO basic Latin alphabet | | AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz | | v t e | Q, or q, is the seventeenth letter "Letter (alphabet)") of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is pronounced /ˈkjuː/ ⓘ-Flame,_not_lame-Q.wav "File:LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Q.wav"), most commonly spelled cue, but also kew, kue, and que. ## History [edit] [...] # Q [...] The lowercase "q" is usually seen as a lowercase "o" or "c" with a descender (i.e., downward vertical tail) extending from the right side of the bowl, with or without a swash (i.e., flourish), or even a reversed lowercase p. The "q"'s descender is usually typed without a swash due to the major style difference typically seen between the descenders of the "g" (a loop) and "q" (vertical). When handwritten, or as part of a handwriting font, the descender of the "q" sometimes finishes with a
- Q definition in American English - Collins Dictionary
or Q (kjuː ) nounWord forms: plural q's, Q's or Qs 1. the 17th letter and 13th consonant of the modern English alphabet 2. a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a voiceless velar stop, as in unique and quick Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers ## q in British English 2 symbol for quintal Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers ## quintal in British English (ˈkwɪntəl ) noun 1. [...] Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 5th Digital Edition. Copyright © 2025 HarperCollins Publishers. ## Q in American English (kjuː) or q (kjuː) nounWord forms: plural Q's or Qs, q's or qs 1. the 17th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant 2. any spoken sound represented by the letter Q or q, as in quick, acquit, or Iraq 3. something having the shape of a Q 4. a written or printed representation of the letter Q or q 5. [...] English Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese More English Italiano Português 한국어 简体中文 Deutsch Español हिंदी 日本語 English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese Definitions Summary Synonyms Sentences Pronunciation Collocations Conjugations Grammar Credits × # Definition of 'Q' ## Q also q (kyu ) (plural Q's , plural q's ) variable noun Q is the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet.
- Amazon Q – Generative AI Assistant - AWS
Amazon Q is a generative AI assistant that transforms how work gets done in your organization. With specialized capabilities for software developers, business intelligence analysts, contact center employees, supply chain analysts, and anyone building with AWS, Amazon Q helps every employee get insights on their data and accelerate their tasks. Leveraging Amazon Q's advanced agentic capabilities, companies can streamline processes, get to decisions faster, and help employees be more productive.
Wikidata
View on WikidataInstance Of
Location Data
Quadra, Região Imediata de Tatuí, Região Geográfica Intermediária de Sorocaba, São Paulo, Região Sudeste, Brasil
Coordinates: -23.2993320, -48.0546570
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