CTRL+Z: OpenAI undoes Altman’s firing, reinstalls as CEO

Plus: Purple bronze quantum magic trick, Earth’s water leaking down to the core, sustainable aviation fuel win In an only-in-tech-land plot twist, OpenAI’s iconic CEO Sam Altman has returned to the helm just days after being tossed overboard in a shocking dismissal – the apparent victim of a botched boardroom coup now rescued by an employee firestorm and his corporate allies. This real-life Silicon Valley drama revealed the power of both individual AI luminaries and worker solidarity. Chastened by pressure from all sides, OpenAI’s senior team have rapidly rediscovered their loyalty to Altman - but this affair has already exposed uncomfortable truths about power plays at the highest level. We have the full story in today’s [Must Read](. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! 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[SUBSCRIBE]( HOT TOPICS - 🌊 [AI unlocks the formula for predicting monster waves at sea]( A new AI system is trained with 700 years of data to calculate the probability of “rogue wave” formation. - ☢️ [PhD student engineers potato plant that sniffs out nuclear radiation]( This bioengineered potato plant could function as a cost-effective radiation sensor one day. - 🛰 [China adds fifth force, near-space command loaded with hypersonic weapons]( The superpower has a first-mover advantage in this arena and can cause major damage with its latest weapons. - 🆙 [Electra debuts ‘first’ hybrid-electric short take-off, landing flight]( The Goldfinch is the “world’s first” blown lift aircraft using distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid-electric system. - 🌌 [Cosmic bonfire: Webb finds 500,000 stars illuminating Milky Way’s core]( The stunning images provide a glimpse into a chaotic star-forming region dubbed Sagittarius C (Sgr C). Must Read [⏎ Sam Altman will rejoin OpenAI as CEO after board coup]( After a dramatic five-day saga, OpenAI’s prodigal son Sam Altman is returning as CEO following his surprise firing last week. A newly constituted board has rehired Altman, averting mass resignations – [over 700 employees had threatened to quit]( unless the old board resigned. The new board includes former government and tech executives, and likely has the backing of Microsoft which retains strong ties with OpenAI. Altman’s return caps an almost-Shakespearean power struggle at the AI startup. With Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s support, Altman initially joined the tech giant to lead a new AI division. But with tensions cooling and Microsoft maintaining board-level presence, OpenAI seems to have restored harmony, at least for now. The drama highlights the fierce competition in artificial intelligence research, with companies battling over top talent like Altman. Ironically, [OpenAI had reportedly approached]( the CEO of Altman’s AI safety rival Anthropic as his replacement. But in the end, no one could replace Sam Altman at the helm of what may be the world’s most valuable startup. Against all odds, the mission continues for Altman at OpenAI. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🌎 Earth’s surface water may seep to its molten core]( Intriguing new evidence suggests that surface water carried into our planet’s depths could explain the anomalous thin layer surrounding Earth's liquid outer core. Through high-pressure experiments, scientists traced water’s chemical journey toward the core. Dive deeper into H₂O’s role in Earth’s geological dynamics. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🟪 Purple bronze: Quantum ‘magic trick’ unlocks promise of ‘perfect switch’]( Scientists discovered a strange quantum effect in purple bronze where complexity transforms into symmetry, defying physics' normal symmetry breaking. Upon cooling, its particles suddenly organize into consistent order in all directions. This emergent symmetry could enable revolutionary electronics switches. Further quantum magic awaits - the key is learning to manipulate the breakthrough phenomenon. Click below to learn more about possible applications for this breakthrough. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [✈️ Historic SAF-powered transatlantic flight completed]( A Gulfstream jet with customized engines just became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic completely powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This milestone flight demonstrates the potential for net-zero commercial aviation through clean energy solutions. Click below to learn more about the role and components of SAF. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Principle Systems Integration Engineer]( at Lockheed Martin Corporation Littleton(US) [Principal Certification Engineer]( at Honeywell Phoenix(US) [Principal Engineer]( at FANATICS Remote(US) [Principal Software Engineer]( at Nike Beaverton(US) [Principal Software Engineer]( at opentext Lexington(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY What should Sam Altman's top priority be as reinstated OpenAI CEO? [Rebuilding trust and morale]( [A renewed focus on AI safety]( [Strengthening ties with Microsoft]( [Proving his critics wrong]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you about your willingness to ride the Falcon’s Flight rollercoaster, set to open in Saudi Arabia next year. Here are the results! 45% No way, that's too intense for me 25% Yes, I love extreme rollercoasters! 18% You go first 12% OpenAI’s story arc is more thrilling “i love openai, and everything i’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together [...] i’m looking forward to returning to openai, and building on our strong partnership with msft.” Sam Altman, in a tweet this morning THINGS WE LOVE [Samsung Galaxy S23]( [$899.99]( [Acer Nitro Gaming Monitor]( [$249.99]( [Echo Studio]( [$154.99]( [LG UltraWide Curved Monitor]( [$329.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [OpenAI sought Google-backed Anthropic CEO for merger and leadership]( - [Building cities with reduced carbon footprints — how can it be done?]( [premium] - [Chaparral C1: world's first turbogenerator-hybrid hVTOL takes flight]( - [Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao settles with DOJ, leaves position]( - [UK health service signs US spy tech firm Palantir to secure patient data]( - [How bacteria heal cracks in BioFiber’s self-repairing concrete]( - [Russia resurrects Soviet-era M-55 spy plane for Ukraine surveillance]( - [5 engineering mistakes that prove the importance of Murphy’s Law]( - [US and NATO allies test AI-powered anti-jamming tech to fortify defenses]( - [New alloy mix boosts 3D implants, cutting 87 percent of staph bacteria]( Need help with advertising? 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