Sam Altman
CEO, OpenAI
Leads OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Writes periodically about AI's trajectory and the tradeoffs between capability and safety.
Key arguments & positions
- Has said OpenAI could reach AGI "by the end of 2026" under his definition, while also signaling openness to slowing frontier development amid safety concerns.
- In "The Gentle Singularity" (2026) argues transformative AI change is arriving gradually rather than as a sudden event.
Accomplishments
- Co-founded OpenAI (2015) and led it as CEO through GPT-3, GPT-4 and ChatGPT, including a brief board-led ouster and reinstatement in 2023.
- President of Y Combinator, 2014–2019.
Papers & key writings
Links
Jobs
What they've said in public about careers, hiring and work. Each point links to its source.
- Career advice
Lists 13 habits he links to success, including backing yourself, learning to think independently, working hard and building a network.
How To Be Successful, January 2019
Timeline
- 2014Becomes president of Y Combinator.
- 2015Co-founds OpenAI.
- 2022OpenAI releases ChatGPT to the public.
- 2023Removed as OpenAI CEO by the board and reinstated within five days.
- 2024Publishes "The Intelligence Age", his case for abundant AI.
In the library
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