Hello, this is Hamamoto from TIMEWELL.
"It was five days that will be remembered in the history of technology" — many media outlets used that phrase to describe the dramatic period from Sam Altman's firing to his return at OpenAI in November 2023. More than two years later, how has OpenAI changed?
As of January 2026, OpenAI has released GPT-5.2 and is firmly establishing itself in the enterprise market. A new model equivalent to GPT-6 has also been announced for Q1 2026. This article explores what happened from the firing controversy to the present, and OpenAI's 2026 strategy.
November 2023: The Firing That Shocked the World
The Sudden Announcement
On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors abruptly announced the firing of CEO Sam Altman. Co-founder Greg Brockman also announced his resignation, sending shockwaves across the global tech industry.
At the time, Sam Altman tweeted:
i loved my time at openai. it was transformative for me personally, and hopefully the world a little bit. mostly i'm looking forward to what comes next.
Microsoft's Swift Move
Just days after the firing, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman would join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team:
We are extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.
This announcement escalated into a situation where over 95% of OpenAI employees signed a letter saying they would leave if Sam didn't return.
The Lightning Return After Five Days
Then, on November 21, 2023, Sam Altman returned as OpenAI's CEO. The board was overhauled and the company restarted under a new governance structure.
Then vs. Now: OpenAI's Evolution
ChatGPT's Evolution
As of November 2023:
- GPT-4 was the latest model
- Voice features (Speech to Text) in trial
- DALL-E image generation integrated
As of January 2026:
- GPT-5.2 released on December 11, 2025
- Three modes: GPT-5.2 instant (speed-focused), GPT-5.2 thinking (reasoning-focused), GPT-5.2 Pro (for professionals)
- GPT-5.2 Pro performance: AI output is preferred 74.1% of the time compared to expert-level work (meaning it beats expert quality roughly 3 out of 4 times)
- o3 model: Records top performance on Codeforces, SWE-bench, MMMU, and more
- o3-mini model: Cost-efficient reasoning model
Organizational Changes
2023:
- Hybrid structure of nonprofit (OpenAI Inc.) and for-profit (OpenAI LP)
- Trillion-yen-scale investment from Microsoft
2026:
- Enterprise market is the top priority (enterprise growth surpassed consumer growth in 2025)
- Up to $100 billion investment from NVIDIA, with systems equivalent to 10GW expected to go live in late 2026
- IPO (stock listing) is being discussed
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OpenAI's 2026 Strategy: Sam Altman's Blueprint
New Model Equivalent to GPT-6 (Q1 2026)
Sam Altman has explicitly stated that a "new model representing a significant leap beyond GPT-5.2" will launch in Q1 2026. The industry expects this to be "GPT-6," with further performance gains anticipated.
Automating AI Research
OpenAI has announced the following roadmap:
- September 2026: Achieve intern-level AI research assistants
- 2028: Achieve fully autonomous AI researchers
This means AI will enter the stage of accelerating its own evolution.
New Device Development
Sam Altman and former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive are co-developing a new device planned for release in 2026.
Concept: A solution to "screen fatigue" Goal: Ship 1 million units on launch day
It's an ambitious project that proposes a new form of AI device to replace the smartphone.
Y Combinator: A Factory for Entrepreneurs
Before founding OpenAI, Sam Altman served as CEO of Y Combinator — the world's top entrepreneurship program — which has produced companies including:
| Company | Business |
|---|---|
| Airbnb | Accommodation booking platform |
| Dropbox | Online file storage |
| Social news site | |
| Stripe | Online payment processor |
Under Sam Altman's leadership, Y Combinator supported thousands of startups and made a significant contribution to the startup ecosystem.
Understanding OpenAI: From the Basics
OpenAI's Founding Philosophy
OpenAI was founded in 2015 by Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and others.
Purpose of establishment:
- Advance AI research and openly share its results
- Promote the safe development of AI technology
- Prioritize societal benefit over commercial gain
The "Open" in the company name reflects this philosophy.
A Unique Organizational Structure
OpenAI uses a hybrid structure combining a nonprofit (OpenAI Inc.) and a for-profit entity (OpenAI LP). This allows it to generate commercial revenue while limiting profits to its mission and reinvestment.
This structure was one of the contributing factors to the 2023 firing controversy, but as of 2026 it remains largely intact.
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Summary: From the 2023 Turbulence to a Leap Forward in 2026
Key Points
- The November 2023 firing controversy: OpenAI's biggest crisis was resolved in five days with Sam Altman's return
- Release of GPT-5.2: Achieved quality that outperforms experts 74.1% of the time
- GPT-6 equivalent model in Q1 2026: A further leap is promised
- Focus on the enterprise market: Enterprise services are the top priority
- Large-scale infrastructure investment: Up to $11 trillion from NVIDIA; building systems equivalent to 10GW
- Automating AI research: Targeting intern-level by September 2026, full automation by 2028
- New device development: A new device planned for 2026 to solve "screen fatigue"
Looking Ahead
The 2023 firing controversy was, on the surface, a crisis — but in the end it strengthened OpenAI's governance and opened a path to more sustainable growth. 2026 will be a turning point in which OpenAI makes a full shift from the consumer market to the enterprise market.
AI's evolution continues to accelerate. Both businesses and individuals are entering an era where adapting to this change and using AI appropriately is essential.
References
- OpenAI's Vision for 2026: Sam Altman Lays Out the Roadmap
- Sam Altman just laid out OpenAI's plan for 2026
- Introducing GPT-5.2
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