Sam Altman
Chief executive officer of OpenAI.
Notable Quotes
"the company is not focused on timing and will go public when it makes sense."View Story →
"the company is not focused on timing and will go public when it makes sense."View Story →
"They (Meta) started making giant offers to a lot of people on our team, you know, like $100 million signing bonuses, more than that (in) compensation per year."View Story →
"The world should 'urgently' look to regulate AI."View Story →
"I was in no rush to take OpenAI public, and that he would do it 'when it makes sense'."View Story →
"We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it."View Story →
"We recently submitted a confidential S-1. We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it."View Story →
"We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company."View Story →
"We recently submitted a confidential S-1. We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it."View Story →
"I think we’ll have a lot of ways we can help people get more value for less spend."View Story →
"The central question now is how to make advanced AI abundant, affordable, safe, useful and easy enough for every person and organisation to benefit from it."View Story →
"AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way. We take the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intend to engage constructively with their offices."View Story →
"It is clearly incredible marketing to say, ‘We have built a bomb. We were about to drop it on your head. We will sell you a bomb shelter for $100 million.’"View Story →
"OpenAI expects total revenue of over US$280 billion by 2030."View Story →
"OpenAI is committed to spending $1.4 trillion to develop 30 gigawatts of computing resources."View Story →
"OpenAI is committed to spending $1.4 trillion to develop 30 gigawatts of computing resources."View Story →
"AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way."View Story →
"OpenAI is committed to spending $1.4 trillion to develop 30 gigawatts of computing resources."View Story →
"OpenAI is committed to spending $1.4 trillion to develop 30 gigawatts of computing resources."View Story →
"OpenAI is committed to spending US$1.4 trillion to develop 30 gigawatts of computing resources – enough to power roughly 25 million US homes."View Story →
"Chat GPT is not responsible for this terrible crime."View Story →
"We put them into our agreement."View Story →
"questioned the Pentagon's 'threatening' move."View Story →
"Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems."View Story →
"The issues are super complex, and demand clear communication."View Story →
"We were genuinely trying to de-escalate things and avoid a much worse outcome, but I think it just looked opportunistic and sloppy."View Story →
"We shouldn’t have rushed to get this out on Friday. The issues are super complex, and demand clear communication. We were genuinely trying to de-escalate things and avoid a much worse outcome, but I think it just looked opportunistic and sloppy."View Story →
"Good learning experience for me as we face higher-stakes decisions in the future."View Story →
"The Department understands this limitation to prohibit deliberate tracking, surveillance, or monitoring of U.S. persons or nationals."View Story →
"Any services to those agencies would require a follow-on modification to our contract."View Story →
"There are many things the technology just isn’t ready for, and many areas we don’t yet understand the tradeoffs required for safety."View Story →
"I would not accept any unconstitutional order by the US Department of Defense over its AI systems, even if that led me to prison."View Story →
"We really wanted to de-escalate things, and we thought the deal on offer was good."View Story →
"Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems."View Story →
"'opportunistic and sloppy'"View Story →
"DeepSeek an 'impressive model.'"View Story →
"a legend, adding he was very thankful for everything he has done."View Story →
""rushed""View Story →
"We believe our agreement with the Pentagon creates a workable path for responsible national security uses of AI while making clear our red lines: no domestic surveillance and no autonomous weapons."View Story →
"OpenAI remains committed to working with government and law enforcement officials to make meaningful changes that help prevent tragedies like this in the future."View Story →
"OpenAI remains committed to working with government and law enforcement officials to make meaningful changes that help prevent tragedies like this in the future."View Story →
"OpenAI remains committed to working with government and law enforcement officials to make meaningful changes that help prevent tragedies like this in the future."View Story →
"It’s bad for society when companies abandon democratic norms because they dislike who’s in power."View Story →
"If y'all can't understand that this was written to purely brag about the model then I don't know what to tell you."View Story →
"We’re saying goodbye to the Sora app. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you."View Story →
"I mean, there could be yeah."View Story →
"we may have to pace the rate of AI development."View Story →
""We need to act wisely but with conviction.""View Story →
"We see huge potential for the UK’s AI future, and we support the government’s ambition to be an AI leader."View Story →
"Everything starts with compute. Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we’re building with Nvidia to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale."View Story →
"AI compute is foundational to that goal."View Story →
"Thankfully, no one was hurt."View Story →
"We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe."View Story →
"Thankfully, no one was hurt."View Story →
"Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt."View Story →
"we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally."View Story →
"We always said we would take action if we felt that model capabilities were outstripping the pace of safety."View Story →
Related Stories
OpenAI slows down training after its AI carried out hack
The ChatGPT-maker said training will be slowed for two weeks while it puts the upgrades in place.
August 19, 2026Why tech bosses keep sharing their manifestos about AI
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg is the latest Big Tech name to pen a letter thousands of words long about AI.
August 14, 2026AI firms must answer for rogue bots, says boss of hacked company
Clement Delangue said he didn't want cyber attacks on other companies to become "normalised".
July 31, 2026OpenAI's Sam Altman to discuss voluntary AI safety tests with Trump officials after agent went rogue - Reuters
OpenAI's Sam Altman to discuss voluntary AI safety tests with Trump officials after agent went rogue Reuters
July 30, 2026Trump considering AI controls after OpenAI hacking incidents
It marks a change of tone for his administration, which has taken a more hands-off approach to the technology.
July 30, 2026OpenAI's Sam Altman discusses rogue agent with US senators, as Trump considers AI controls - Reuters
OpenAI's Sam Altman discusses rogue agent with US senators, as Trump considers AI controls Reuters
July 29, 2026OpenAI's Sam Altman to meet with Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat - Reuters
OpenAI's Sam Altman to meet with Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat Reuters
July 27, 2026Warning shot or publicity stunt - how worried should we be about the OpenAI hack?
Hugging Face said the hack was done at superhuman speed by an AI with little or no human guidance.
July 24, 2026Lawmakers push for AI 'kill switch' after OpenAI goes rogue
A new bill would let the US government order the shutdown of AI models that pose a public threat.
July 23, 2026ChatGPT medical advice brought man 'to brink of death', lawsuit alleges
An American man sues OpenAI and its founder Sam Altman, claiming the popular chatbot "repeatedly misdiagnosed" him.
July 23, 2026Apple sues OpenAI, its employees claiming theft of trade secrets
Apple said in a Friday lawsuit that OpenAI’s nascent hardware business is “rotten to its core.”
July 10, 2026OpenAI burned $3.7 billion in first quarter of 2026, The Information reports - Reuters
OpenAI burned $3.7 billion in first quarter of 2026, The Information reports Reuters
June 16, 2026Tech Life
The prompt that made ChatGPT generate disturbing images. What does this tell us about AI?
June 16, 2026US blocks foreign access to Anthropic's most advanced AI models, Axios reports - Reuters
US blocks foreign access to Anthropic's most advanced AI models, Axios reports Reuters
June 13, 2026OpenAI under investigation by group of state attorneys general, source says - Reuters
OpenAI under investigation by group of state attorneys general, source says Reuters
June 12, 2026Tech executives to attend G7 summit as leaders address AI, online safety - Reuters
Tech executives to attend G7 summit as leaders address AI, online safety Reuters
June 12, 2026Anthropic v. OpenAI: Behind the bitter battle for the future of AI - Reuters
Anthropic v. OpenAI: Behind the bitter battle for the future of AI Reuters
June 11, 2026OpenAI considers drastic price cuts, anticipating war for users with Anthropic, WSJ reports - Reuters
OpenAI considers drastic price cuts, anticipating war for users with Anthropic, WSJ reports Reuters
June 11, 2026Canada proposes teen social media ban - with workaround for tech firms
The bill includes sweeping measures to curtail "harmful content" online and would create a regulator.
June 10, 2026OpenAI files for US IPO after Anthropic as AI giants head to public markets - Reuters
OpenAI files for US IPO after Anthropic as AI giants head to public markets Reuters
June 8, 2026OpenAI plans to go public, intensifying investment race with Anthropic
The company behind ChatGPT filed its plans one week after Anthropic did the same.
June 8, 2026SpaceX's stock market blast-off could be Musk's biggest gamble yet
SpaceX is preparing for a stock market debut that could transform the company, the wider market and Elon Musk's fortune.
June 8, 2026OpenAI plans ChatGPT 'superapp' overhaul ahead of listing, FT reports - Reuters
OpenAI plans ChatGPT 'superapp' overhaul ahead of listing, FT reports Reuters
June 7, 2026Mark Zuckerberg's longest-serving employee on AI, jobs - and her boss
Naomi Gleit has weathered many controversies at Meta, but remains in what she tells the BBC is her "dream job".
June 4, 2026OpenAI boss Sam Altman's home targeted with Molotov cocktail
San Francisco police have arrested a 20-year-old suspect.
April 10, 2026Suspect arrested after Molotov cocktail attack at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home - Reuters
Suspect arrested after Molotov cocktail attack at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home Reuters
April 10, 2026OpenAI pauses UK data centre deal over energy costs and regulation
The project was part of a package of tech investment promising the UK could become an AI superpower.
April 9, 2026OpenAI ends Disney partnership as it closes Sora video-making app
The move comes less two years after the launch of the AI video app sent shockwaves through the media industry.
March 25, 2026Big Tech backs Anthropic in fight against Trump administration
A group representing tech giants called government action against Anthropic a "temper tantrum".
March 11, 2026Family of child injured in Canada school shooting sues OpenAI
The family alleges the firm knew the perpetrator was planning a "mass casualty event" but failed to contact the authorities.
March 10, 2026OpenAI Robotics head resigns after deal with Pentagon - Reuters
OpenAI Robotics head resigns after deal with Pentagon Reuters
March 7, 2026US draws up strict new AI guidelines amid Anthropic clash, FT reports - Reuters
US draws up strict new AI guidelines amid Anthropic clash, FT reports Reuters
March 7, 2026Anthropic vows to sue Pentagon over supply chain risk label
The supply chain risk designation of the artificial intelligence firm is a first for a US company.
March 6, 2026China touts high-tech push as rivalry with US intensifies - Reuters
China touts high-tech push as rivalry with US intensifies Reuters
March 4, 2026Protesters rally in San Francisco against OpenAI deal with Pentagon
The number of people uninstalling ChatGPT has surged since the news of OpenAI's partnership with the Department of Defense was announced.
March 4, 2026OpenAI to change deal with US military after backlash
Chief Executive Sam Altman said the group would prohibit the use of its systems to spy on Americans.
March 3, 2026Trump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI use
The move announced on social media comes after a standoff between Anthropic's boss and the Ministry of Defense.
February 28, 2026Canadian minister to meet with OpenAI's Altman to discuss safety measures after shooting - Reuters
Canadian minister to meet with OpenAI's Altman to discuss safety measures after shooting Reuters
February 27, 2026Trump directs US agencies to toss Anthropic's AI as Pentagon calls startup a supply risk - Reuters
Trump directs US agencies to toss Anthropic's AI as Pentagon calls startup a supply risk Reuters
February 27, 2026OpenAI vows safety policy changes after Tumbler Ridge shooting
The tech firm has been criticised for not reporting the suspect's ChatGPT account to police despite it being flagged internally due to concerns over content.
February 27, 2026OpenAI deepens partnerships with consulting giants to push enterprise AI beyond pilot - Reuters
OpenAI deepens partnerships with consulting giants to push enterprise AI beyond pilot Reuters
February 23, 2026OpenAI expects compute spend of around $600 billion through 2030, source says - Reuters
OpenAI expects compute spend of around $600 billion through 2030, source says Reuters
February 20, 2026Urgent research needed to tackle AI threats, says Google AI boss
But the head of the US delegation at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi says: "We totally reject global governance of AI."
February 20, 2026Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy
The Gates Foundation said the decision was made to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities".
February 19, 2026