Samuel Harris Altman

Samuel Harris Altman, born on 22 April 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent American entrepreneur and investor renowned for his leadership roles in the technology sector. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Altman developed an early interest in computers, receiving his first computer at age eight. He attended Stanford University to study computer science but left in 2005 to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

Altman initially gained recognition as the founder of Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile app. Despite raising over $30 million in venture capital, Loopt struggled to attract a substantial user base and was sold to Green Dot Corporation for $43.4 million in 2012. Following this, Altman joined Y Combinator, a prestigious startup accelerator, where he served as president from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, he expanded the organisation’s reach and influence, contributing to the success of numerous startups including Reddit, Stripe, and Airbnb.

In 2015, Altman co-founded OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research organisation. He became CEO in 2019, and under his leadership, OpenAI transitioned from a non-profit to a for-profit entity. The company's notable advancements include the development of GPT-3, a sophisticated language model, and DALL-E, an AI capable of generating images from text descriptions. The release of ChatGPT in late 2022 further solidified OpenAI's prominence, leading to a significant $10 billion investment from Microsoft.

Altman has also been involved in clean energy ventures, serving as chairman of Oklo Inc. and Helion Energy. Recognised for his contributions to technology and investment, he was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2023. He married Oliver Mulherin in 2024.
 

Samuel Harris Altman, born on 22 April 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent American entrepreneur and investor, widely recognised for his leadership in the technology sector. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Altman developed an early fascination with computers. His interest was sparked at the age of eight when he received an Apple Macintosh, leading him to explore coding and computer hardware.

Altman attended John Burroughs School, a private institution in Ladue, Missouri. In 2004, he enrolled at Stanford University to study computer science. However, after two years, he left Stanford to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. In 2005, at the age of 19, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application. The venture attracted over $30 million in venture capital from notable investors, including Patrick Chung and Sequoia Capital. Despite significant investment, Loopt struggled to gain widespread user adoption and was acquired by Green Dot Corporation in 2012 for $43.4 million. Subsequently, Altman co-founded Hydrazine Capital with his brother, Jack Altman.

In 2011, Altman joined Y Combinator, a renowned startup accelerator. Initially working part-time, he became a partner and was appointed president in February 2014. During his tenure, Y Combinator expanded significantly, with its portfolio companies including notable names such as Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe. In 2016, Altman took on a broader role as president of YC Group, overseeing Y Combinator and other units. He also introduced YC Continuity, a $700 million equity fund, and Y Combinator Research, a non-profit research lab. Altman’s efforts contributed to the growth and diversification of Y Combinator’s portfolio.

In March 2019, Altman stepped down from his role at Y Combinator to become the CEO of OpenAI, a research organisation he co-founded in 2015 with the goal of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in a safe and beneficial manner. OpenAI initially operated as a non-profit but transitioned to a for-profit model to better commercialise its technologies. Altman played a pivotal role in the development of GPT-3, a sophisticated language model, and DALL-E, an AI capable of generating images from text descriptions. The release of ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a significant milestone, drawing widespread public attention. In response to the success of ChatGPT, Microsoft invested $10 billion in OpenAI and integrated the chatbot into its Bing search engine.

Altman’s leadership at OpenAI was briefly interrupted in November 2023 when he was removed as CEO by the board. The dismissal, which cited issues related to transparency, led to significant controversy and a large-scale employee protest. The situation was resolved within days, with Altman reinstated as CEO. He continued to steer OpenAI through a period of rapid growth and increased scrutiny, including testifying before the United States Senate on AI oversight.

In addition to his work with OpenAI, Altman is involved in several other ventures. He is chairman of Oklo Inc., a company focused on developing compact nuclear reactors, and Helion Energy, which is working on nuclear fusion technology. He also co-founded Tools For Humanity, a company that developed Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency linked to biometric verification.

Altman’s investment portfolio includes stakes in various technology and clean energy companies, such as Humane, a wearable AI computer, and Retro Biosciences, a firm dedicated to extending human lifespan. He is also known for his political and philanthropic activities, including supporting universal basic income and land value taxation. Altman signed the Giving Pledge in May 2024, committing to donate most of his wealth to charitable causes.

Altman’s career has earned him recognition as one of the leading figures in the AI industry, with notable accolades including being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2023. His contributions to technology and his ventures into clean energy highlight his diverse interests and impact on multiple sectors.

Samuel Altman envisions leveraging artificial intelligence to address global challenges and drive innovation. He advocates for responsible AI development to benefit humanity while exploring new frontiers in clean energy and technology. His goal is to harness these advancements to enhance quality of life and tackle pressing issues sustainably.