The New Yorker published an in-depth investigation on April 6 about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Based on testimonies from over 100 insiders and internal memos, the investigation revealed long-standing instances of deception and power manipulation by Altman within the company.
In the report, former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and former Research Director Dario Amodei pointed out several incidents where Altman was suspected of manipulation and deception. Amodei clearly stated, "The problem with OpenAI is Sam himself." Sutskever submitted a secret memo to the board in the fall of 2023, accusing Altman of hiding safety risks at critical moments and manipulating the management, believing he was no longer fit to lead the technology of artificial intelligence.
The board's emergency decision to fire Altman caused strong reactions in Silicon Valley. Microsoft, an important investor in OpenAI, learned about this just before the news was released. Faced with threats of employee resignations and pressure from Microsoft, the board eventually decided to reinstate Altman within a week and restructure the board. This event was called "the moment," as if a character had briefly disappeared and then reappeared in a movie.
The investigation also mentioned that Altman was asked to leave while serving at Y Combinator for "lying" and conflicts of interest. During his time at OpenAI, he was repeatedly accused of sacrificing safety principles for commercial interests. Notes from former employee Amodei showed that Altman promised exclusive terms to Microsoft that did not conform to the company's charter and denied them when questioned.
Altman has shown remarkable flexibility in political and capital operations. He publicly called for regulation but secretly lobbied the governor of California to veto an AI safety bill. Additionally, his financial dealings with foreign regimes such as the UAE have raised concerns about potential technology leaks. Critics argue that Altman gains trust through the narrative of "saving humanity," but actually seeks absolute power.
Key Points:
📰 More than 100 insiders accuse OpenAI CEO Altman of long-term deception and power manipulation.
⚖️ The board decided to fire Altman due to his concealment of safety risks, but eventually reinstated him under pressure.
💰 Altman shows flexibility in political and capital operations, and his financial dealings with foreign regimes raise concerns.
