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Sam Altman | Biography, OpenAI, Microsoft, & Facts
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4/5
High(4)High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.
Rating inherited from publication venue: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Useful as a quick factual reference on Sam Altman for wiki users seeking background on a key decision-maker shaping OpenAI's direction, AI safety discourse, and frontier AI deployment policy.
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Importance: 30/100wiki pagereference
Summary
A Britannica biographical overview of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, covering his early career, role at Y Combinator, and leadership of OpenAI including its partnership with Microsoft. Provides factual background on a central figure in AI development and governance debates.
Key Points
- •Sam Altman serves as CEO of OpenAI, the organization behind GPT-4 and ChatGPT, making him one of the most influential figures in modern AI.
- •Previously led Y Combinator, giving him significant influence over the startup ecosystem before transitioning full-time to AI.
- •OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft, overseen by Altman, has major implications for AI deployment and commercialization.
- •Altman has been a prominent public voice on AI safety, existential risk, and the need for AI regulation and governance.
- •His brief firing and reinstatement as CEO in November 2023 highlighted governance tensions at the frontier of AI development.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Altman | Person | 40.0 |
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Table of Contents
* * *
- [Introduction & Quick Facts](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref2237011-1)
- [Early life](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365875)
- [Loopt and Y Combinator](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365876)
- [OpenAI: ChatGPT and turmoil](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365877)
Read More
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OpenAI](https://www.britannica.com/money/OpenAI) [\\
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Elon Musk](https://www.britannica.com/money/Elon-Musk) [\\
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Howard Hughes](https://www.britannica.com/money/Howard-Hughes)
Table Of Contents
# Sam Altman
American entrepreneur
PrintCiteShare
Also known as: Samuel Harris Altman
**Written by** Erik Gregersen
[Erik Gregersen](https://www.britannica.com/money/author/Erik-Gregersen/6723)
Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the Astrophysical Journal. Prior to that, he worked at McMaster University on the ODIN radio astronomy satellite project.
**Fact-checked by** The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/money/author/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Article History
Table of Contents
* * *
- [Introduction & Quick Facts](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref2237011-1)
- [Early life](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365875)
- [Loopt and Y Combinator](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365876)
- [OpenAI: ChatGPT and turmoil](https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman#ref365877)
Read More
[\\
\\
OpenAI](https://www.britannica.com/money/OpenAI) [\\
\\
Elon Musk](https://www.britannica.com/money/Elon-Musk) [\\
\\
Howard Hughes](https://www.britannica.com/money/Howard-Hughes)
Table Of Contents
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