Exponential View by Azeem Azhar

Share this post

🔥 Who is Sam Altman?

www.exponentialview.co

Discover more from Exponential View by Azeem Azhar

Weekly deep dives on AI and exponential technologies from a global expert featured in The Economist, WSJ and Financial Times. Join investors, C-suite execs and global leaders and change how you think about the future.
Over 89,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sign in

🔥 Who is Sam Altman?

As OpenAI's CEO is pushed out, who is he?

Azeem Azhar
Nov 17, 2023
34
Share this post

🔥 Who is Sam Altman?

www.exponentialview.co
2
Share

Sam Altman is out at OpenAI, according to this heavily lawyered statement:

Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.

So who is Sam Altman?

I’ve spoken to Sam a few times in the last few years, and it might be a good time to revisit those discussions. I’d generally found him to be candid, thoughtful and openish…. within the constraints of being the boss of a closely-held firm.

I spoke to him back in 2020 just after GPT-3 was released. Take a listen to our discussion here.

Then in May this year, I spoke to him again for my TV series, Exponentially. Give this a watch. Perhaps these conversations will help you make up your mind.

In the TV discussion, I asked the question: “Can we trust Sam Altman?” It turned out that his board couldn’t.

cheers,
A

34
Share this post

🔥 Who is Sam Altman?

www.exponentialview.co
2
Share
Previous
Next
2 Comments
Share this discussion

🔥 Who is Sam Altman?

www.exponentialview.co
Paul Baier
Writes GAI Insights - Paul Baier
Nov 18

I suspect a really big issue. (Twitter rumors are that he secretly asked OpenAI to support Israel (he’s Jewish) or he stole IP). I have a hard time of think of something else that merits this public hanging (fraud, etc. can all be hidden in “spend time with family” and a succession plan)

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
1 reply
1 more comment...
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 EPIIPLUS1 Ltd
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing