As the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman has been a prominent figure in the tech industry, known for his ambitious vision of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI). However, according to a recent report by Insider, which cites numerous anonymous venture capitalists and startup executives, Altman’s once-sterling reputation may be starting to lose its luster.
The report comes as Altman is allegedly engaged in a massive $100 billion funding round to support OpenAI’s AGI development efforts. While Altman has long been celebrated for his intellect and altruistic goals, some in the tech and finance communities are growing increasingly skeptical of his grandiose rhetoric and cult-of-personality leadership style.
One venture capital partner, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration with Altman’s perceived lack of transparency, stating, “He likes to act altruistic, but I’d rather he just tell me his true intentions.” Another anonymous VC went even further, calling Altman a “megalomaniac” and comparing him to Elon Musk, saying, “For the same reason I don’t trust Elon, I just don’t trust somebody whose aspirations are so clearly about themselves.” The same VC also questioned Altman’s intellectual honesty, claiming, “I’ve had plenty of meetings with him where he says things where I’m like, that just cannot possibly be true, but he can kinda get away with it.”
An angel investor who knows Altman suggested that there is a “fear associated with not being in on what he’s doing,” highlighting the immense influence Altman wields in the industry. Another anonymous source accused Altman of building “the platform of Sam,” implying that the OpenAI CEO’s primary focus is on his own reputation rather than the betterment of humanity, which he has previously claimed as his goal.
Despite these critical remarks, the vast majority of the individuals interviewed for the Insider piece chose to remain anonymous, possibly due to Altman’s considerable power and influence in the tech world. However, one notable exception was Ali Ghodsi, CEO of Databricks, a company that could be considered a rival to OpenAI. In an on-the-record statement, Ghodsi expressed skepticism about Altman’s claims regarding the capabilities of OpenAI’s technology, stating, “If your worldview is that you have AGI and it’s basically superhuman, and these are like the gods, we invented god, yeah then maybe you should turn the whole planet upside down. I don’t think that’s what’s happening.”
This is not the first time Altman has faced criticism from industry insiders. In the aftermath of the OpenAI “ousting” controversy last year, allegations surfaced that Altman was “manipulative,” dishonest, and a poor leader. More recently, a New York Times article featured similar claims, primarily from Mira Murati, one of OpenAI’s top executives.
As OpenAI continues to pursue its ambitious AGI goals and Altman remains at the helm, it remains to be seen how these growing criticisms will impact the company’s future and Altman’s reputation within the tech community. While some may dismiss the anonymous comments as “sour grapes,” the fact that more individuals are coming forward, even if anonymously, suggests that Altman’s once-untouchable status may be starting to erode
