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| birth_place  = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| birth_place  = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| nationality  = American
| nationality  = American
| education    = [[Stanford University]] (attended, did not graduate)
| education    = [[Stanford University]] (dropped out)
| occupation  = {{flatlist|
| occupation  = {{flatlist|
* Business executive
* Business executive
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}}
}}
| known_for    = CEO of [[OpenAI]], President of [[Y Combinator]], Co-founder of [[Loopt]]
| known_for    = CEO of [[OpenAI]], President of [[Y Combinator]], Co-founder of [[Loopt]]
| title        = Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI
| title        = CEO of OpenAI
| children    = 1
| children    = 1
| awards      = Time "Architects of AI" (Person of the Year, 2025)
| website      = {{URL|blog.samaltman.com}}
| website      = {{URL|blog.samaltman.com}}
| awards      = ''Time'' "Architects of AI" (Person of the Year, 2025)
}}
}}


'''Samuel Harris Altman''' (born April 22, 1985) is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and investor who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[OpenAI]], an artificial intelligence research organization, since 2019. Under his leadership, OpenAI launched [[ChatGPT]] in November 2022, a product that became one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history and helped catalyze a global wave of commercial interest in artificial intelligence. Before leading OpenAI, Altman co-founded [[Loopt]], a geosocial networking startup, while still in his teens, and went on to serve as president of [[Y Combinator]], one of Silicon Valley's most influential startup accelerators, from 2014 to 2019. In November 2023, Altman was briefly removed from his position at OpenAI by the organization's board of directors, only to be reinstated five days later following an outpouring of support from employees and investors. He has also served as chairman of clean energy companies [[Helion Energy]] and [[Oklo]]. In 2025, Altman was named among the "Architects of AI" for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} Person of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/ |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2023-04-09 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman of OpenAI: The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Samuel Harris Altman''' (born April 22, 1985) is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and investor who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[OpenAI]], the artificial intelligence research organization, since 2019. He first gained attention in the technology industry as the co-founder of [[Loopt]], a geosocial networking mobile application, and later as president of [[Y Combinator]], one of Silicon Valley's most prominent startup accelerators. Under Altman's leadership, OpenAI launched [[ChatGPT]] in late 2022, a product that became one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history and a catalyst for a broader wave of commercial interest in artificial intelligence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=2023-03-31 |title=The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In November 2023, Altman was briefly ousted as CEO by OpenAI's board of directors, only to be reinstated five days later following an outcry from employees and investors. Beyond his work at OpenAI, Altman has made substantial investments in areas including nuclear fusion energy and semiconductor manufacturing, and has served as chairman of both [[Helion Energy]] and [[Oklo]], two clean energy companies. In 2025, he was recognized among the "Architects of AI" as part of ''Time'' magazine's Person of the Year designation.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-20 |title=Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/ |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Samuel Harris Altman was born on April 22, 1985, in [[Chicago, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He grew up in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], where he was raised in a Jewish family. Altman developed an early interest in technology and computers. As profiled extensively in ''The New Yorker'', Altman demonstrated entrepreneurial inclinations from a young age, gravitating toward programming and the possibilities afforded by the emerging internet era.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517010534/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker (archived) |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Samuel Harris Altman was born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was raised in a Jewish family. Altman showed an early interest in computers and technology; he received his first computer, a Macintosh, at the age of eight, and taught himself to code and disassemble computer hardware during his childhood.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Altman received his first computer at the age of eight, an event that, by his own account, shaped the trajectory of his interests and ambitions. He attended [[John Burroughs School]], a private preparatory school in St. Louis. During his high school years, he came out as gay, a fact he has discussed publicly in subsequent interviews and writings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Altman attended John Burroughs School, a private preparatory school in St. Louis. As a teenager, he became interested in both programming and entrepreneurship. He came out as gay during high school and has spoken publicly about the experience in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


His upbringing in the Midwest, outside of the established technology corridors of Silicon Valley or the East Coast, informed what would become a career-long interest in the geographic decentralization of innovation and the belief that talented founders could emerge from anywhere. This perspective later influenced his work at Y Combinator, where he advocated for funding startups from a broad range of backgrounds and locations.
His upbringing in the Midwest and exposure to technology from a young age shaped what would become a persistent interest in the intersection of software, start-up culture, and large-scale societal challenges. By the time Altman reached college age, he was already oriented toward Silicon Valley and the start-up ecosystem that would define much of his career.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Altman enrolled at [[Stanford University]], where he studied computer science. He attended Stanford for two years before dropping out in 2005 to pursue entrepreneurial ventures full-time.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2014 |title=Sam Altman Interview |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |work=Esquire |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His decision to leave Stanford placed him within a well-known Silicon Valley tradition of technology entrepreneurs who departed elite universities to launch startups, a path previously taken by figures such as [[Bill Gates]], [[Steve Jobs]], and [[Mark Zuckerberg]]. Altman has spoken publicly about the trade-offs of his decision, noting in interviews that while he valued his time at Stanford, the opportunity to build a company proved more compelling than completing a degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman Interview 2014 (archived) |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220145855/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |publisher=Esquire (archived) |date=2014 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Altman enrolled at [[Stanford University]] in Stanford, California, where he studied computer science. He attended for approximately two years before leaving to pursue entrepreneurial ventures full-time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Helman |first=Chris |date=2014 |title=Sam Altman Interview |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |work=Esquire |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> While at Stanford, Altman began working on the idea that would become Loopt, his first major start-up. His decision to drop out of Stanford placed him in a tradition of prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who left elite universities to build technology companies, though Altman himself has noted the risks of this path for most students.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Loopt (2005–2012) ===
=== Loopt (2005–2012) ===


After leaving Stanford in 2005, Altman co-founded '''Loopt''', a location-based social networking application for smartphones. Loopt was among the first cohort of startups funded by [[Y Combinator]], the seed-stage accelerator founded by [[Paul Graham (programmer)|Paul Graham]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Y Combinator People |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625021419/http://ycombinator.com/people.html |publisher=Y Combinator (archived) |date=2014 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The company developed technology that allowed users to share their real-time locations with friends through their mobile phones, a concept that predated many of the geolocation features later incorporated into mainstream social media platforms.
In 2005, at the age of 19, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loopt – Company Executives |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216022416/http://www.loopt.com/about/company/executives/ |publisher=Loopt |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The company was part of the inaugural batch of [[Y Combinator]], the start-up accelerator founded by Paul Graham. Loopt allowed users to share their real-time location with friends and discover nearby events and businesses, a concept that was novel in the early days of the smartphone era.


Loopt raised more than US$30 million in venture capital over the course of its operation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The company attracted attention both for its technology and for Altman's youth — he was only 19 when he founded it. Despite its early promise, Loopt struggled to achieve widespread consumer adoption in a competitive and rapidly evolving mobile landscape. In March 2012, Loopt was acquired by the prepaid debit card company [[Green Dot Corporation]] in a deal reported to be worth approximately $43.4 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Startup Loopt Lands With Green Dot |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313052152/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/03/09/startup-loopt-lands-with-green-dot/ |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2012-03-09 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The acquisition was generally regarded as a modest outcome given the capital the company had raised, though the experience provided Altman with substantial operational and fundraising knowledge that would prove useful in his subsequent career.
Under Altman's leadership as CEO, Loopt raised more than US$30 million in venture capital funding.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The company operated for seven years but ultimately struggled to gain a large user base in an increasingly competitive market for location-based services. In March 2012, Loopt was acquired by the prepaid debit card company [[Green Dot Corporation]] in a deal valued at approximately US$43.4 million.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2012-03-09 |title=Startup Loopt Lands With Green Dot |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313052152/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/03/09/startup-loopt-lands-with-green-dot/ |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Although the acquisition was not considered a major financial success relative to the amount of venture funding raised, the experience gave Altman significant insight into both the start-up lifecycle and the venture capital process.


=== Y Combinator (2011–2019) ===
=== Y Combinator (2011–2019) ===


In 2011, Altman joined [[Y Combinator]] as a part-time partner. His involvement deepened over the following years, and in 2014, he was appointed president of Y Combinator, succeeding the organization's co-founder, Paul Graham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Y Combinator People |url=http://ycombinator.com/people.html |publisher=Y Combinator |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman Interview |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |work=Esquire |date=2014 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Following Loopt's acquisition, Altman became increasingly involved with Y Combinator. In 2011, he began working with the accelerator as a part-time partner, advising early-stage start-ups and making investment decisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Y Combinator People |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625021419/http://ycombinator.com/people.html |publisher=Y Combinator |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Altman's involvement deepened rapidly, and in 2014, at the age of 28, he was appointed president of Y Combinator, succeeding Paul Graham.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2014 |title=Sam Altman Interview |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |work=Esquire |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2014 |title=Sam Altman Takes the Reins of Y Combinator |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150644/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244508 |work=Entrepreneur |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


As president, Altman oversaw a significant expansion of Y Combinator's activities. He increased the size of its biannual cohorts of startups, broadened the types of companies the accelerator funded, and established new programs, including the YC Growth Fund and YC Continuity, which allowed Y Combinator to invest in later-stage companies alongside its traditional seed-stage funding. Under Altman's tenure, Y Combinator solidified its position as one of the most prominent and influential startup accelerators in the world, funding companies across sectors including technology, biotech, hardware, and nonprofit ventures.
As president, Altman oversaw a significant expansion of Y Combinator's operations. He increased the number of companies accepted into each batch and broadened the accelerator's focus to include areas such as biotech, hardware, and nonprofit ventures, in addition to its traditional emphasis on software start-ups. Altman also launched the YC Growth Fund, a later-stage investment vehicle, and the YC Continuity Fund, aimed at providing follow-on funding to the most successful Y Combinator alumni companies.


Altman also used his position to advocate for issues he considered important to the technology ecosystem, including universal basic income, nuclear energy, and preparing for pandemic risks. A 2016 profile in ''The New Yorker'' described his broad range of interests and his efforts to position Y Combinator as more than a conventional accelerator, extending into policy and research areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
During his tenure, Y Combinator's portfolio grew to include hundreds of companies, and its influence in the broader start-up ecosystem expanded considerably. Altman became one of the most prominent voices in Silicon Valley during this period, publishing frequent blog posts on topics ranging from start-up strategy to nuclear energy and universal basic income.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Blog |url=https://blog.samaltman.com/ |publisher=Sam Altman |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


A ''Business Insider'' profile noted that Altman had a long-standing interest in existential risks, including pandemics and questions related to life extension and human mortality, subjects he discussed openly and that influenced his thinking about the societal implications of advanced technology.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman on Pandemic, Apocalypse, and Immortality |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4 |work=Business Insider |date=2023-04 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
A 2016 profile in ''The New Yorker'' described Altman's role at Y Combinator and his broader ambitions in the technology sector, noting his interest in existential risk, life extension, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Altman stepped down as president of Y Combinator in 2019 in order to focus full-time on OpenAI.
 
Altman stepped down from his role as president of Y Combinator in 2019 to devote his full attention to OpenAI.


=== OpenAI (2019–present) ===
=== OpenAI (2019–present) ===
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==== Founding and Early Involvement ====
==== Founding and Early Involvement ====


OpenAI was founded in December 2015 as a nonprofit artificial intelligence research laboratory. The organization's stated mission was to ensure that [[artificial general intelligence]] (AGI) would benefit humanity broadly. Altman was among the co-founders and early backers of the initiative. In 2019, he assumed the role of CEO, transitioning from his position at Y Combinator to lead the organization full-time.
OpenAI was founded in December 2015 as a nonprofit artificial intelligence research laboratory. Altman was among the co-founders, along with [[Elon Musk]], [[Ilya Sutskever]], Greg Brockman, and others. The organization was established with the stated mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. In 2019, Altman formally assumed the role of CEO of OpenAI, leaving Y Combinator to devote his full attention to the company.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |date=2023-04-09 |title=Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Under Altman's leadership, OpenAI underwent a significant structural transformation. The organization created a "capped-profit" subsidiary in 2019, designed to attract the large amounts of capital needed to fund advanced AI research while maintaining alignment with the nonprofit's mission. This structure allowed OpenAI to secure a major investment from [[Microsoft]], which became its largest financial backer and cloud computing partner.
Under Altman's leadership, OpenAI transitioned from a purely nonprofit entity to a "capped-profit" structure, a hybrid model designed to attract the large amounts of capital needed for cutting-edge AI research while nominally preserving the organization's mission-driven character. This transition attracted significant investment, most notably from [[Microsoft]], which committed billions of dollars to the company.


==== Launch of ChatGPT and the AI Boom ====
==== Launch of ChatGPT ====


On November 30, 2022, OpenAI released [[ChatGPT]], a conversational AI chatbot built on the company's [[GPT-3.5]] large language model. The product attracted an estimated 100 million users within its first two months, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer applications ever launched. ChatGPT's release is credited with catalyzing widespread public and commercial interest in generative AI, a phenomenon that has been referred to as the "AI boom."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman of OpenAI: The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/ |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2023-04-09 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In November 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a conversational AI system built on the company's GPT series of large language models. The product attracted over one million users within its first week of availability, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer technology products in history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=2023-03-31 |title=The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The launch of ChatGPT was a catalytic event for the broader AI industry, triggering substantial increases in investment, competition, and public attention to large language models and generative AI.


Following the launch, Altman became one of the most prominent public figures in the technology industry. He embarked on a global tour in 2023, meeting with heads of state, policymakers, and technology communities in dozens of countries to discuss the implications of AI and advocate for international regulatory frameworks. He testified before the [[United States Senate]] in May 2023, calling for the regulation of AI systems and proposing the creation of a licensing agency for advanced AI models.
Altman became a public face of the AI boom that followed. He testified before the [[United States Senate]] in May 2023, where he advocated for the regulation of AI systems and expressed concerns about the technology's potential for misuse. He also embarked on a global tour of meetings with heads of state and policymakers, discussing AI governance and the implications of advanced AI systems.


As of February 2026, Altman has continued to serve as the public face of OpenAI and has made extensive public statements about the trajectory of AI development. In a visit to [[IIT Delhi]], he stated that AI would "automate the whole economy" and advised students to remain current with AI tools as the technology continued to advance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman says AI will 'automate the whole economy', shares message for students at IIT Delhi |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/sam-altman-says-ai-will-automate-the-whole-economy-shares-message-for-students-at-iit-delhi-11771849044415.html |work=Mint |date=2026-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> During an appearance at the Express Adda event in New Delhi, Altman discussed topics including the race toward AGI, his rivalry with [[Elon Musk]], concerns about job losses, and competition for talent in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman at Express Adda Highlights: OpenAI CEO on AGI race, Musk rivalry, job losses, and Silicon Valley talent wars |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/sam-altman-at-express-adda-live-updates-open-ai-ceo-interview-anant-goenka-10542468/ |work=The Indian Express |date=2026-02-21 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
==== Board Crisis of November 2023 ====


Altman has also publicly commented on the trend of technology companies citing AI as a reason for workforce reductions. In February 2026, he suggested that some companies were "AI-washing" their layoffs — using artificial intelligence as a justification for job cuts that may have been planned for other reasons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman thinks tech companies are 'AI-washing' their layoffs |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/layoffs-sam-altman-ai-washing-21647451.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2026-02-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He separately compared the energy consumption of AI training to human development, arguing that "training a human takes 20 years of food" and that discussions about the power requirements of AI systems should be viewed in that broader context.<ref>{{cite news |title='Training A Human Takes 20 Years Of Food': Sam Altman On How Much Power AI Consumes |url=https://www.news18.com/world/training-a-human-takes-20-years-of-food-sam-altman-on-how-much-power-ai-consumes-ws-kl-9922309.html |work=News18 |date=2026-02-21 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors abruptly removed Altman from his role as CEO. In a public statement, the board cited a loss of "confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI" but did not provide specific reasons for the decision.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |date=2023-04-09 |title=Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The move triggered an immediate and intense backlash. More than 700 of OpenAI's approximately 770 employees signed a letter threatening to resign and join Microsoft unless Altman was reinstated. Microsoft CEO [[Satya Nadella]] publicly offered Altman a position at Microsoft, though negotiations continued in parallel for his return to OpenAI.


==== November 2023 Ouster and Reinstatement ====
Five days after his removal, on November 22, 2023, Altman was reinstated as CEO. As part of the resolution, OpenAI's board was reconstituted, with several of the directors who had voted for Altman's ouster departing. The episode drew widespread media attention and raised questions about AI governance, the balance of power between nonprofit boards and commercial interests, and the concentration of influence within AI organizations.


On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors announced that it had removed Altman as CEO. In a public statement, the board said it had lost "confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI." The announcement did not specify the precise reasons for the decision and was met with immediate and widespread shock across the technology industry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman of OpenAI: The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
==== Continued Leadership and AI Expansion ====


In the days following the announcement, the majority of OpenAI's employees — reported to be more than 700 of approximately 770 staff members — signed an open letter threatening to resign unless Altman was reinstated and the board reformed. Microsoft, OpenAI's largest investor, also publicly expressed support for Altman, and Microsoft CEO [[Satya Nadella]] initially announced that Altman would join Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research unit. However, negotiations between the parties continued, and on November 22, 2023, five days after his removal, OpenAI announced that Altman would return as CEO. As part of the resolution, the organization formed a new board of directors, replacing the members who had voted to remove him.
Following his reinstatement, Altman continued to lead OpenAI through a period of rapid growth and product development. The company released successive versions of its GPT models and expanded its product offerings to include image generation, voice interaction, and AI agent capabilities. In early 2026, OpenAI launched OpenClaw, a virtual AI agent system that attracted significant attention on Wall Street and raised questions about security and market stability.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-23 |title=OpenClaw Might Be a Security Nightmare for Sam Altman |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-02-23/openclaw-may-be-a-security-nightmare-for-openai-s-sam-altman |work=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The episode drew intense media attention and raised questions about the governance structures of nonprofit-controlled AI organizations, the relationship between OpenAI's mission and its commercial operations, and the concentration of influence in the hands of a small number of individuals in the AI sector.
Altman has continued to be an outspoken public figure on issues related to AI. In February 2026, speaking at the Express Adda event in New Delhi, Altman discussed the race toward artificial general intelligence, his rivalry with Elon Musk, the impact of AI on employment, and competition for talent in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-21 |title=Sam Altman at Express Adda Highlights: OpenAI CEO on AGI race, Musk rivalry, job losses, and Silicon Valley talent wars |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/sam-altman-at-express-adda-live-updates-open-ai-ceo-interview-anant-goenka-10542468/ |work=The Indian Express |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Around the same time, he told students at [[IIT Delhi]] that AI would "automate the whole economy" and urged students to stay current with AI tools.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-23 |title=Sam Altman says AI will 'automate the whole economy', shares message for students at IIT Delhi |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/sam-altman-says-ai-will-automate-the-whole-economy-shares-message-for-students-at-iit-delhi-11771849044415.html |work=Mint |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


==== OpenClaw and Market Impact ====
Altman has also commented on a trend he describes as "AI-washing" of layoffs, in which companies attribute job cuts to artificial intelligence adoption when the underlying reasons may be different. In a February 2026 interview, he expressed skepticism that AI was the primary driver of all reported technology-sector layoffs.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-22 |title=Sam Altman thinks tech companies are 'AI-washing' their layoffs |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/layoffs-sam-altman-ai-washing-21647451.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-21 |title='Lay-offs': AI founder says quiet part out loud |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/trends/ai-washing-openai-ceo-sam-altman-appears-to-confirm-sneaky-job-loss-trend/news-story/f4da1e473ecc7da7ab4a2b47fcae1227 |work=News.com.au |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In February 2026, OpenAI's virtual AI agent system, OpenClaw, became a subject of significant public discussion. The system, which is designed to perform complex autonomous tasks, was reported to have contributed to a $2 trillion sell-off in software stocks on Wall Street, raising questions about the security implications of advanced AI agents and their potential to disrupt existing technology markets.<ref>{{cite news |title=OpenClaw Might Be a Security Nightmare for Sam Altman |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-02-23/openclaw-may-be-a-security-nightmare-for-openai-s-sam-altman |work=Bloomberg |date=2026-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Altman has compared the energy demands of AI training to the resource requirements of human development, noting that "training a human takes 20 years of food" in defense of the energy consumption associated with large-scale AI model training.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-21 |title='Training A Human Takes 20 Years Of Food': Sam Altman On How Much Power AI Consumes |url=https://www.news18.com/world/training-a-human-takes-20-years-of-food-sam-altman-on-how-much-power-ai-consumes-ws-kl-9922309.html |work=News18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Energy Investments: Helion Energy and Oklo ===
=== Investments and Other Ventures ===


Beyond his work in artificial intelligence, Altman has made substantial personal investments in nuclear and fusion energy companies. He has served as chairman of [[Helion Energy]], a fusion power startup that aims to build commercial fusion reactors, and [[Oklo]], a company developing small modular fission reactors. In February 2026, ''Forbes'' reported that Altman's investment in Helion Energy was "getting hotter than the sun," as the company moved closer to commercialization of its fusion technology.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/ |work=Forbes |date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Outside of OpenAI, Altman has been an active investor and board member in the energy sector. He has served as chairman of [[Helion Energy]], a nuclear fusion start-up working to develop commercial fusion power, and [[Oklo]], a company focused on compact nuclear fission reactors. In April 2025, Altman stepped down from his board positions at both companies.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-20 |title=Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/ |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Altman has framed his interest in energy as closely connected to the demands of AI. As AI models become larger and require more computational resources, the energy infrastructure needed to power them has become a significant practical and political issue. Altman has argued that breakthroughs in fusion and advanced nuclear energy are essential to supporting the long-term growth of AI while mitigating environmental impact. He stepped down from his chairmanship roles at both Helion Energy and Oklo in April 2025.
Altman has expressed a longstanding interest in topics such as life extension, pandemic preparedness, and existential risk. A 2023 ''Business Insider'' article detailed his interest in pandemic and apocalypse preparedness, as well as life extension technologies.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-04 |title=Sam Altman's interest in pandemic, apocalypse, immortality, and life extension |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
He has also been involved in high-level discussions on global governance and technology policy. Altman attended the [[Bilderberg Meeting]] in 2022 and 2023, participating in sessions focused on artificial intelligence and its geopolitical implications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilderberg Meetings – Participants 2022 |url=https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2022/participants-2022 |publisher=Bilderberg Meetings |date=2022 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-05-18 |title=Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google join AI talks at secretive meeting |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-05-20 |title=Bilderberg meeting group in Lisbon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/20/bilderberg-meeting-group-lisbon-kissinger |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Altman is openly gay, a fact he has discussed in multiple public interviews and in writing. In a 2014 interview with ''Esquire'', he spoke about his experience as a gay man in the technology industry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman Interview |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/ |work=Esquire |date=2014 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has one child.
Altman is openly gay, having come out during his teenage years while attending high school in St. Louis, Missouri.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has one child.


Altman has written publicly about topics including survivalism and existential risk preparedness. A ''Business Insider'' profile noted his interest in scenarios involving pandemics and civilizational collapse, subjects that he has discussed with characteristic directness.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman on Pandemic, Apocalypse, and Immortality |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4 |work=Business Insider |date=2023-04 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Altman has maintained a personal blog where he writes on topics including technology, start-ups, artificial intelligence, energy, and society.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Blog |url=https://blog.samaltman.com/ |publisher=Sam Altman |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has expressed interest in survivalism and preparedness, and has spoken publicly about preparations for potential catastrophic events, including pandemics and societal disruptions.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-04 |title=Sam Altman's interest in pandemic, apocalypse, immortality, and life extension |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


He maintains a personal blog at blog.samaltman.com, where he publishes essays on technology, startups, and societal issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Blog |url=https://blog.samaltman.com/ |publisher=Sam Altman |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
As of 2025, Altman's net worth was estimated at approximately US$2.1 billion by ''Forbes''.
 
Altman has attended the [[Bilderberg Meeting]], an annual private conference of political leaders, business executives, and academics. He was listed as a participant at the 2022 meeting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Participants 2022 |url=https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2022/participants-2022 |publisher=Bilderberg Meetings |date=2022 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2023, he attended the Bilderberg Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, where artificial intelligence was among the topics discussed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bilderberg meeting: group gathers in Lisbon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/20/bilderberg-meeting-group-lisbon-kissinger |work=The Guardian |date=2023-05-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google Join AI Talks at Secretive Meeting |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html |work=CNBC |date=2023-05-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Altman has received significant public attention and recognition for his role in the development and commercialization of artificial intelligence. In 2025, ''Time'' magazine named him among the "Architects of AI" as part of its Person of the Year designation, reflecting his centrality to the global AI industry.
Altman has received significant media attention and recognition over the course of his career. In 2016, ''The New Yorker'' published a detailed profile of Altman under the title "Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny," examining his role at Y Combinator and his ambitions for the future of technology.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=2016-10-10 |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


''The New Yorker'' profiled him extensively in a 2016 feature titled "Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny," which examined his ambitions, his leadership of Y Combinator, and his broader vision for technology and society.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2016-10-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Major profiles have also appeared in ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', ''Business Insider'', ''Esquire'', and ''Entrepreneur'', among others.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Altman Profile |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150644/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244508 |publisher=Entrepreneur (archived) |date=2015 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Altman became one of the most prominent figures in the global technology industry. He was profiled extensively by outlets including ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''Business Insider''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=2023-03-31 |title=The Man Behind ChatGPT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |date=2023-04-09 |title=Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


A February 2026 article in ''The New York Times'' examined the public's mixed response to the AI boom, noting that tech leaders including Altman have begun to grapple with what the article described as "the public's underwhelming enthusiasm for their plans to remake the world with artificial intelligence."<ref>{{cite news |title=People Loved the Dot-Com Boom. The A.I. Boom, Not So Much. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/technology/ai-boom-backlash.html |work=The New York Times |date=2026-02-21 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2025, ''Time'' magazine named Altman among the "Architects of AI" as part of its annual Person of the Year designation, recognizing his central role in the development and commercialization of AI technology.


His net worth has been estimated at approximately US$2.1 billion by ''Forbes''.
Altman has been a speaker and participant at major global forums, including the [[Bilderberg Meeting]], where he joined discussions with world leaders and senior executives from technology companies on the implications of artificial intelligence.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-05-18 |title=Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google join AI talks at secretive meeting |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


As of 2026, Altman's legacy is closely tied to the development and proliferation of large language models and generative AI systems. The release of ChatGPT under his leadership at OpenAI is credited with transforming AI from a primarily academic and industrial concern into a mainstream consumer technology, prompting a global reexamination of education, employment, intellectual property, and national security policies.
Altman's career has placed him at the center of several defining developments in early 21st-century technology. His leadership of Y Combinator during a period of significant expansion helped shape the accelerator model that has become standard in the start-up ecosystem. His transition from that role to leading OpenAI coincided with—and, to a degree, helped accelerate—the emergence of artificial intelligence as a dominant theme in global technology and investment.


His career trajectory — from a teenage startup founder, to the head of one of Silicon Valley's most important accelerators, to the CEO of the organization at the center of the AI industry — has made him one of the most prominent figures in the early 21st-century technology sector. His November 2023 ouster and rapid reinstatement at OpenAI became a defining episode in the broader debate about AI governance, the balance between commercial imperatives and safety concerns, and the power dynamics within the organizations developing the most advanced AI systems.
The launch of ChatGPT under Altman's tenure at OpenAI marked a turning point in public awareness of generative AI and large language models. The product's rapid adoption prompted responses from competitors including Google, Meta, and numerous start-ups, and catalyzed a broader "AI boom" characterized by massive capital inflows, workforce changes, and regulatory scrutiny worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-21 |title=People Loved the Dot-Com Boom. The A.I. Boom, Not So Much. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/technology/ai-boom-backlash.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Altman's investments in fusion and nuclear energy through Helion Energy and Oklo reflect a broader thesis that the future of AI is inseparable from the future of energy production, a position that has gained increasing attention as the computational demands of AI training and inference have grown.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/ |work=Forbes |date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The November 2023 board crisis at OpenAI, in which Altman was removed and quickly reinstated, became a landmark event in the debate over corporate governance of AI organizations. It highlighted tensions between nonprofit governance structures and the commercial imperatives of companies at the frontier of AI research.


His public commentary on the societal implications of AI — from labor market displacement to the potential for AGI — has positioned him as a central, if sometimes controversial, voice in ongoing debates about the trajectory of the technology. Whether OpenAI's stated mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity will be realized remains an open question, and Altman's leadership of the organization continues to be the subject of significant scrutiny from technologists, policymakers, and the public.
Altman's investments in fusion energy through Helion and nuclear fission through Oklo reflect a broader thesis—shared with some other technology executives—that the growth of AI will require a fundamental transformation in global energy infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-20 |title=Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/ |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
As AI technology continues to develop and its societal implications become more apparent, Altman's role as CEO of OpenAI positions him as a central figure in ongoing debates about the trajectory, governance, and impact of artificial intelligence.


== References ==
== References ==
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Revision as of 00:39, 24 February 2026

Sam Altman
BornSamuel Harris Altman
22 04, 1985
BirthplaceChicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTemplate:Flatlist
TitleCEO of OpenAI
Known forCEO of OpenAI, President of Y Combinator, Co-founder of Loopt
EducationStanford University (dropped out)
Children1
AwardsTime "Architects of AI" (Person of the Year, 2025)
Website[[blog.samaltman.com blog.samaltman.com] Official site]

Samuel Harris Altman (born April 22, 1985) is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and investor who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, since 2019. He first gained attention in the technology industry as the co-founder of Loopt, a geosocial networking mobile application, and later as president of Y Combinator, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent startup accelerators. Under Altman's leadership, OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, a product that became one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history and a catalyst for a broader wave of commercial interest in artificial intelligence.[1] In November 2023, Altman was briefly ousted as CEO by OpenAI's board of directors, only to be reinstated five days later following an outcry from employees and investors. Beyond his work at OpenAI, Altman has made substantial investments in areas including nuclear fusion energy and semiconductor manufacturing, and has served as chairman of both Helion Energy and Oklo, two clean energy companies. In 2025, he was recognized among the "Architects of AI" as part of Time magazine's Person of the Year designation.[2]

Early Life

Samuel Harris Altman was born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois.[3] He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was raised in a Jewish family. Altman showed an early interest in computers and technology; he received his first computer, a Macintosh, at the age of eight, and taught himself to code and disassemble computer hardware during his childhood.[4]

Altman attended John Burroughs School, a private preparatory school in St. Louis. As a teenager, he became interested in both programming and entrepreneurship. He came out as gay during high school and has spoken publicly about the experience in subsequent years.[5]

His upbringing in the Midwest and exposure to technology from a young age shaped what would become a persistent interest in the intersection of software, start-up culture, and large-scale societal challenges. By the time Altman reached college age, he was already oriented toward Silicon Valley and the start-up ecosystem that would define much of his career.

Education

Altman enrolled at Stanford University in Stanford, California, where he studied computer science. He attended for approximately two years before leaving to pursue entrepreneurial ventures full-time.[6] While at Stanford, Altman began working on the idea that would become Loopt, his first major start-up. His decision to drop out of Stanford placed him in a tradition of prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who left elite universities to build technology companies, though Altman himself has noted the risks of this path for most students.[7]

Career

Loopt (2005–2012)

In 2005, at the age of 19, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application.[8] The company was part of the inaugural batch of Y Combinator, the start-up accelerator founded by Paul Graham. Loopt allowed users to share their real-time location with friends and discover nearby events and businesses, a concept that was novel in the early days of the smartphone era.

Under Altman's leadership as CEO, Loopt raised more than US$30 million in venture capital funding.[9] The company operated for seven years but ultimately struggled to gain a large user base in an increasingly competitive market for location-based services. In March 2012, Loopt was acquired by the prepaid debit card company Green Dot Corporation in a deal valued at approximately US$43.4 million.[10] Although the acquisition was not considered a major financial success relative to the amount of venture funding raised, the experience gave Altman significant insight into both the start-up lifecycle and the venture capital process.

Y Combinator (2011–2019)

Following Loopt's acquisition, Altman became increasingly involved with Y Combinator. In 2011, he began working with the accelerator as a part-time partner, advising early-stage start-ups and making investment decisions.[11] Altman's involvement deepened rapidly, and in 2014, at the age of 28, he was appointed president of Y Combinator, succeeding Paul Graham.[12][13]

As president, Altman oversaw a significant expansion of Y Combinator's operations. He increased the number of companies accepted into each batch and broadened the accelerator's focus to include areas such as biotech, hardware, and nonprofit ventures, in addition to its traditional emphasis on software start-ups. Altman also launched the YC Growth Fund, a later-stage investment vehicle, and the YC Continuity Fund, aimed at providing follow-on funding to the most successful Y Combinator alumni companies.

During his tenure, Y Combinator's portfolio grew to include hundreds of companies, and its influence in the broader start-up ecosystem expanded considerably. Altman became one of the most prominent voices in Silicon Valley during this period, publishing frequent blog posts on topics ranging from start-up strategy to nuclear energy and universal basic income.[14]

A 2016 profile in The New Yorker described Altman's role at Y Combinator and his broader ambitions in the technology sector, noting his interest in existential risk, life extension, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence.[15] Altman stepped down as president of Y Combinator in 2019 in order to focus full-time on OpenAI.

OpenAI (2019–present)

Founding and Early Involvement

OpenAI was founded in December 2015 as a nonprofit artificial intelligence research laboratory. Altman was among the co-founders, along with Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Greg Brockman, and others. The organization was established with the stated mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. In 2019, Altman formally assumed the role of CEO of OpenAI, leaving Y Combinator to devote his full attention to the company.[16]

Under Altman's leadership, OpenAI transitioned from a purely nonprofit entity to a "capped-profit" structure, a hybrid model designed to attract the large amounts of capital needed for cutting-edge AI research while nominally preserving the organization's mission-driven character. This transition attracted significant investment, most notably from Microsoft, which committed billions of dollars to the company.

Launch of ChatGPT

In November 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a conversational AI system built on the company's GPT series of large language models. The product attracted over one million users within its first week of availability, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer technology products in history.[17] The launch of ChatGPT was a catalytic event for the broader AI industry, triggering substantial increases in investment, competition, and public attention to large language models and generative AI.

Altman became a public face of the AI boom that followed. He testified before the United States Senate in May 2023, where he advocated for the regulation of AI systems and expressed concerns about the technology's potential for misuse. He also embarked on a global tour of meetings with heads of state and policymakers, discussing AI governance and the implications of advanced AI systems.

Board Crisis of November 2023

On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors abruptly removed Altman from his role as CEO. In a public statement, the board cited a loss of "confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI" but did not provide specific reasons for the decision.[18] The move triggered an immediate and intense backlash. More than 700 of OpenAI's approximately 770 employees signed a letter threatening to resign and join Microsoft unless Altman was reinstated. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella publicly offered Altman a position at Microsoft, though negotiations continued in parallel for his return to OpenAI.

Five days after his removal, on November 22, 2023, Altman was reinstated as CEO. As part of the resolution, OpenAI's board was reconstituted, with several of the directors who had voted for Altman's ouster departing. The episode drew widespread media attention and raised questions about AI governance, the balance of power between nonprofit boards and commercial interests, and the concentration of influence within AI organizations.

Continued Leadership and AI Expansion

Following his reinstatement, Altman continued to lead OpenAI through a period of rapid growth and product development. The company released successive versions of its GPT models and expanded its product offerings to include image generation, voice interaction, and AI agent capabilities. In early 2026, OpenAI launched OpenClaw, a virtual AI agent system that attracted significant attention on Wall Street and raised questions about security and market stability.[19]

Altman has continued to be an outspoken public figure on issues related to AI. In February 2026, speaking at the Express Adda event in New Delhi, Altman discussed the race toward artificial general intelligence, his rivalry with Elon Musk, the impact of AI on employment, and competition for talent in Silicon Valley.[20] Around the same time, he told students at IIT Delhi that AI would "automate the whole economy" and urged students to stay current with AI tools.[21]

Altman has also commented on a trend he describes as "AI-washing" of layoffs, in which companies attribute job cuts to artificial intelligence adoption when the underlying reasons may be different. In a February 2026 interview, he expressed skepticism that AI was the primary driver of all reported technology-sector layoffs.[22][23]

Altman has compared the energy demands of AI training to the resource requirements of human development, noting that "training a human takes 20 years of food" in defense of the energy consumption associated with large-scale AI model training.[24]

Investments and Other Ventures

Outside of OpenAI, Altman has been an active investor and board member in the energy sector. He has served as chairman of Helion Energy, a nuclear fusion start-up working to develop commercial fusion power, and Oklo, a company focused on compact nuclear fission reactors. In April 2025, Altman stepped down from his board positions at both companies.[25]

Altman has expressed a longstanding interest in topics such as life extension, pandemic preparedness, and existential risk. A 2023 Business Insider article detailed his interest in pandemic and apocalypse preparedness, as well as life extension technologies.[26]

He has also been involved in high-level discussions on global governance and technology policy. Altman attended the Bilderberg Meeting in 2022 and 2023, participating in sessions focused on artificial intelligence and its geopolitical implications.[27][28][29]

Personal Life

Altman is openly gay, having come out during his teenage years while attending high school in St. Louis, Missouri.[30] He has one child.

Altman has maintained a personal blog where he writes on topics including technology, start-ups, artificial intelligence, energy, and society.[31] He has expressed interest in survivalism and preparedness, and has spoken publicly about preparations for potential catastrophic events, including pandemics and societal disruptions.[32]

As of 2025, Altman's net worth was estimated at approximately US$2.1 billion by Forbes.

Recognition

Altman has received significant media attention and recognition over the course of his career. In 2016, The New Yorker published a detailed profile of Altman under the title "Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny," examining his role at Y Combinator and his ambitions for the future of technology.[33]

Following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Altman became one of the most prominent figures in the global technology industry. He was profiled extensively by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Business Insider.[34][35]

In 2025, Time magazine named Altman among the "Architects of AI" as part of its annual Person of the Year designation, recognizing his central role in the development and commercialization of AI technology.

Altman has been a speaker and participant at major global forums, including the Bilderberg Meeting, where he joined discussions with world leaders and senior executives from technology companies on the implications of artificial intelligence.[36]

Legacy

Altman's career has placed him at the center of several defining developments in early 21st-century technology. His leadership of Y Combinator during a period of significant expansion helped shape the accelerator model that has become standard in the start-up ecosystem. His transition from that role to leading OpenAI coincided with—and, to a degree, helped accelerate—the emergence of artificial intelligence as a dominant theme in global technology and investment.

The launch of ChatGPT under Altman's tenure at OpenAI marked a turning point in public awareness of generative AI and large language models. The product's rapid adoption prompted responses from competitors including Google, Meta, and numerous start-ups, and catalyzed a broader "AI boom" characterized by massive capital inflows, workforce changes, and regulatory scrutiny worldwide.[37]

The November 2023 board crisis at OpenAI, in which Altman was removed and quickly reinstated, became a landmark event in the debate over corporate governance of AI organizations. It highlighted tensions between nonprofit governance structures and the commercial imperatives of companies at the frontier of AI research.

Altman's investments in fusion energy through Helion and nuclear fission through Oklo reflect a broader thesis—shared with some other technology executives—that the growth of AI will require a fundamental transformation in global energy infrastructure.[38]

As AI technology continues to develop and its societal implications become more apparent, Altman's role as CEO of OpenAI positions him as a central figure in ongoing debates about the trajectory, governance, and impact of artificial intelligence.

References

  1. ↑ MetzCadeCade"The Man Behind ChatGPT".The New York Times.2023-03-31.https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun".Forbes.2026-02-20.https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ HelmanChrisChris"Sam Altman Interview".Esquire.2014.https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Loopt – Company Executives".Loopt.https://web.archive.org/web/20120216022416/http://www.loopt.com/about/company/executives/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Startup Loopt Lands With Green Dot".The Wall Street Journal.2012-03-09.https://web.archive.org/web/20120313052152/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/03/09/startup-loopt-lands-with-green-dot/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Y Combinator People".Y Combinator.https://web.archive.org/web/20140625021419/http://ycombinator.com/people.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Sam Altman Interview".Esquire.2014.https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/interviews/a30763/sam-altman-interview-2014/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Sam Altman Takes the Reins of Y Combinator".Entrepreneur.2014.https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150644/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244508.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Sam Altman's Blog".Sam Altman.https://blog.samaltman.com/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ TikuNitashaNitasha"Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI".The Washington Post.2023-04-09.https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ MetzCadeCade"The Man Behind ChatGPT".The New York Times.2023-03-31.https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ TikuNitashaNitasha"Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI".The Washington Post.2023-04-09.https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "OpenClaw Might Be a Security Nightmare for Sam Altman".Bloomberg.2026-02-23.https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-02-23/openclaw-may-be-a-security-nightmare-for-openai-s-sam-altman.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Sam Altman at Express Adda Highlights: OpenAI CEO on AGI race, Musk rivalry, job losses, and Silicon Valley talent wars".The Indian Express.2026-02-21.https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/sam-altman-at-express-adda-live-updates-open-ai-ceo-interview-anant-goenka-10542468/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Sam Altman says AI will 'automate the whole economy', shares message for students at IIT Delhi".Mint.2026-02-23.https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/sam-altman-says-ai-will-automate-the-whole-economy-shares-message-for-students-at-iit-delhi-11771849044415.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Sam Altman thinks tech companies are 'AI-washing' their layoffs".San Francisco Chronicle.2026-02-22.https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/layoffs-sam-altman-ai-washing-21647451.php.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "'Lay-offs': AI founder says quiet part out loud".News.com.au.2026-02-21.https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/trends/ai-washing-openai-ceo-sam-altman-appears-to-confirm-sneaky-job-loss-trend/news-story/f4da1e473ecc7da7ab4a2b47fcae1227.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "'Training A Human Takes 20 Years Of Food': Sam Altman On How Much Power AI Consumes".News18.2026-02-21.https://www.news18.com/world/training-a-human-takes-20-years-of-food-sam-altman-on-how-much-power-ai-consumes-ws-kl-9922309.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun".Forbes.2026-02-20.https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  26. ↑ "Sam Altman's interest in pandemic, apocalypse, immortality, and life extension".Business Insider.2023-04.https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  27. ↑ "Bilderberg Meetings – Participants 2022".Bilderberg Meetings.2022.https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2022/participants-2022.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  28. ↑ "Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google join AI talks at secretive meeting".CNBC.2023-05-18.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  29. ↑ "Bilderberg meeting group in Lisbon".The Guardian.2023-05-20.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/20/bilderberg-meeting-group-lisbon-kissinger.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  30. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  31. ↑ "Sam Altman's Blog".Sam Altman.https://blog.samaltman.com/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  32. ↑ "Sam Altman's interest in pandemic, apocalypse, immortality, and life extension".Business Insider.2023-04.https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-pandemic-apocalypse-immortality-life-extension-openai-2023-4.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  33. ↑ FriendTadTad"Sam Altman's Manifest Destiny".The New Yorker.2016-10-10.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  34. ↑ MetzCadeCade"The Man Behind ChatGPT".The New York Times.2023-03-31.https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/technology/sam-altman-open-ai-chatgpt.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  35. ↑ TikuNitashaNitasha"Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, on the Promise and Risk of AI".The Washington Post.2023-04-09.https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/09/sam-altman-openai-chatgpt/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  36. ↑ "Bilderberg: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google join AI talks at secretive meeting".CNBC.2023-05-18.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/18/bilderberg-openai-microsoft-google-join-ai-talks-at-secretive-meeting.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  37. ↑ "People Loved the Dot-Com Boom. The A.I. Boom, Not So Much.".The New York Times.2026-02-21.https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/technology/ai-boom-backlash.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  38. ↑ "Sam Altman's Fusion Power Bet Just Got Hotter Than The Sun".Forbes.2026-02-20.https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/02/20/sam-altmans-fusion-power-bet-just-got-hotter-than-the-sun/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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