A$AP Rocky Performs “Don’t Be Dumb” with Danny Elfman
- A$AP Rocky made his debut as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Jan.
- The Harlem-born rapper appeared on the late-night sketch comedy show for the first time, delivering three tracks from his long-awaited album, Don't Be Dumb, which was released the...
- For the opener, Rocky took the stage at Studio 8H for a cameo-filled performance of the album's lead single, "Punk Rocky." The back-alley-themed set featured iconic composer Danny...
A$AP Rocky made his debut as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 13, performing songs from his latest album.
The Harlem-born rapper appeared on the late-night sketch comedy show for the first time, delivering three tracks from his long-awaited album, Don’t Be Dumb, which was released the day before.
For the opener, Rocky took the stage at Studio 8H for a cameo-filled performance of the album’s lead single, “Punk Rocky.” The back-alley-themed set featured iconic composer Danny Elfman on drums and Thundercat on bass.
Mirroring the song’s chaotic music video,Rocky wore pink hair curlers and wielded a megaphone while performing in front of a spray-painted garage,with a cast of characters trashing the set in the background.
Later in the show, he returned for a medley of “Helicopter” and the album’s title track.
In addition to his musical performances, Rocky appeared in the sketch “Snack Homiez,” joining Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and a cameo from Sabrina Carpenter for a teen podcast about snacks.
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Sam Altman returns as OpenAI CEO after Brief Ouster
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sam Altman was reinstated as CEO of OpenAI on November 22, 2023, just days after being abruptly removed from his position. This followed intense pressure from investors, employees, and Microsoft, a key partner of the artificial intelligence company. The situation involved a dispute over the direction of OpenAI and concerns about its safety protocols, ultimately leading to the initial board decision and subsequent reversal.
The Initial Removal and Board Dispute
On November 17, 2023, OpenAI’s board of directors announced the removal of Sam Altman as CEO, citing a lack of candor in his communications with the board.The board stated it no longer had confidence in his ability to lead OpenAI.Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati was appointed interim CEO. This decision stemmed from internal disagreements regarding the pace of AI development and the prioritization of safety versus commercialization.
The board, at the time, consisted of Greg Brockman (Chairman), Ilya Sutskever, Tasha McCauley, and Adam D’Angelo. Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s Chief Scientist, was a key figure in pushing for altman’s removal, reportedly concerned about the rapid development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its potential risks. Greg Brockman subsequently resigned from his position as Chairman of the board in protest.
Key Concerns Regarding AGI Safety
The core of the dispute revolved around differing philosophies regarding the development and deployment of AGI. Some board members, particularly Sutskever, advocated for a more cautious approach, prioritizing safety research and alignment before aggressively pursuing commercial applications. Altman, on the other hand, was seen as more focused on rapid innovation and market leadership. This difference in viewpoint created a basic conflict within the organization.
example: Sutskever reportedly expressed concerns that openai’s latest models, like GPT-4, were becoming too powerful and that the company wasn’t adequately addressing the potential risks associated with their capabilities. This concern was detailed in reporting by the Wall Street Journal.
Investor and Microsoft Intervention
The removal of Altman triggered a swift and forceful response from OpenAI’s investors, moast notably Microsoft, which has invested billions of dollars in the company. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella publicly stated Microsoft’s commitment to OpenAI and its partnership with Altman, signaling strong support for his reinstatement. Microsoft also announced that Altman and Brockman would join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.
This move by microsoft put important pressure on the remaining board members to reconsider their decision. Hundreds of OpenAI employees also signed a letter demanding Altman’s return, threatening to resign and join Microsoft if he wasn’t reinstated. The collective pressure from investors and employees proved decisive.
Following Altman’s removal, a shareholder lawsuit was filed against the OpenAI board, alleging breach of fiduciary duty. The lawsuit, filed by Thriv Capital, a minority shareholder, claimed the board acted recklessly and without proper justification in removing Altman. Bloomberg law reported on the details of this legal challenge.The lawsuit was ultimately dropped after Altman’s reinstatement.
Altman’s Reinstatement and New Board Composition
On November 22, 2023, openai announced that Sam Altman would return as CEO. As part of the agreement, a new initial board of directors was formed, consisting of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo (the only remaining member of the previous board). The announcement emphasized a commitment to moving forward with a renewed focus on safety and responsible AI development.
Evidence: The official OpenAI blog post detailing the reinstatement explicitly states, “We have reached an agreement in principle that Mr. Altman will return to his role as CEO.”
Current Status (as of January 18, 2026)
As of January 18, 2026, Sam