A major new profile of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the New Yorker magazine has raised significant questions about his character and trustworthiness, citing multiple former associates. The investigation, by journalists Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz, quotes a former OpenAI board member stating Altman is "unconstrained by truth." This follows his brief ousting in November 2023, when the board cited he was "not consistently candid in his communications."
OpenAI, founded in 2015 as a non-profit to manage the risks of artificial intelligence, now operates under a complex for-profit/nonprofit hybrid structure. The company recently published a whitepaper titled "Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age," acknowledging potential downsides of AI such as job disruption and the concentration of power, while advocating for governance conversations.
History of Distrust and Executive Turmoil
The New Yorker piece details a pattern of former colleagues choosing to distance themselves from Altman. Several companies have been founded by former OpenAI executives turned adversaries, most notably Anthropic, led by ex-OpenAI executive Dario Amodei. Their strained relationship was publicly highlighted in February during a photo op where the two refused to hold hands.
Further internal strife is reported by The Information, which states Altman has a difficult relationship with OpenAI's Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar. A point of contention is Friar's reported belief that the company would not be ready for its anticipated massive initial public offering (IPO) by 2026.
Corporate Proposals Amid Leadership Scrutiny
In its new policy whitepaper, OpenAI proposes radical economic measures to mitigate AI's disruptive potential. These include altering the tax code to extract more revenue from large corporations and wealthy individuals to compensate for a potential drop in payroll taxes. The paper also suggests imposing extra taxes specifically on companies that displace workers through AI automation.
The proposals underscore the company's founding mission to navigate the profound societal risks posed by advanced AI. This context makes public trust in its leadership a critical issue, as the technology's development accelerates.
Broader Implications for AI Governance
The revelations in the profile arrive at a pivotal moment for the AI industry, where public and regulatory trust is paramount. OpenAI's call for a conversation on governing advanced AI stands in contrast to the personal credibility challenges faced by its CEO. The company's ability to lead on ethical and policy fronts may be complicated by persistent questions about its top executive's transparency and management style.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the New Yorker profile or the report regarding internal tensions from The Information.