Sam Altman
Samuel Harris Altman (born April 22, 1985) is a leading figure in the world of artificial intelligence, serving as the CEO of OpenAI since 2019. He gained significant recognition in 2023 for his role in the success of ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot that skyrocketed him to fame and increased his personal wealth. However, his year took a dramatic turn when the OpenAI board dismissed him in November 2023, alleging dishonesty. In a swift rebound, Altman returned to his role just days later after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella offered him a position at Microsoft, a move that ultimately led to Altman’s reinstatement at OpenAI and a restructured board.
In 2024, Altman continued to lead OpenAI through innovative strides, overseeing the launch of several new AI products, including a voice assistant, a synthetic video generator, and an AI search engine. Demonstrating his ambition to shape the future of AI, he embarked on a bold initiative to raise up to $7 trillion from investors to establish a new manufacturer of chips, aiming to challenge Nvidia’s market dominance. In July, Altman published a manifesto advocating for democracies to enhance cybersecurity, invest in AI hardware, and collaborate globally to establish norms for AI deployment.
Sam Altman by Midjourney.
However, Altman’s tenure has not been without controversy. His claim of developing AI for the betterment of humanity has faced scrutiny, with critics pointing to potential conflicts of interest due to his private investments in OpenAI collaborators and customers. A series of resignations from senior safety researchers at OpenAI, coupled with a controversy over restrictive non-disclosure agreements, further challenged his leadership. Despite these issues, OpenAI’s new safety committee and board chair, Bret Taylor, have defended Altman, maintaining that he has complied with company policies.
Despite the turbulence, Altman remains a resilient force in AI, keeping OpenAI at the forefront of the AI race. His dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship is underscored by his belief: “So much of being a successful entrepreneur is about just not giving up.”
