Sam Altman

OpenAI CEO

Contemporary influential 97 sayings

Sayings by Sam Altman

I think the rate of change is going to be incredibly fast.

2023 — Interview with The Verge
Controversial Unverifiable

The goal is to build general artificial intelligence that benefits all of humanity.

Ongoing — OpenAI mission statement, often reiterated in interviews
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the most important thing is to be optimistic about the future.

Ongoing — Various interviews
Controversial Unverifiable

We need to make sure that AI doesn't become a tool for oppression.

2023 — Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the biggest risk is not building AI fast enough.

Various — This is a nuanced view, often balanced with safety concerns. Confidence slightly lower due to potent…
Controversial Unverifiable

The future of work is going to be very different.

2023 — Interview with CNBC
Controversial Unverifiable

I think we're going to need a universal basic income.

2016 — Interview with The New York Times
Controversial Unverifiable

The hardest part of building a company is convincing people to join you.

2014 — Y Combinator 'Startup School' lecture
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the internet has been a net positive for humanity.

2023 — Interview with Lex Fridman
Controversial Unverifiable

We need to make sure that AI doesn't get out of control.

2023 — Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Controversial Unverifiable

I'm much more worried about the misuse of AI than I am about AI becoming sentient and evil.

2023 — Interview with The Verge
Controversial Unverifiable

The future is going to be weirder than we can imagine.

Ongoing — Various interviews
Controversial Unverifiable

I think we're going to need some sort of global coordination around AI.

2023 — Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Controversial Unverifiable

The biggest opportunity in AI is to solve problems that we can't solve today.

2023 — Interview with Lex Fridman
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the most important thing is to empower individuals.

Ongoing — Various interviews
Controversial Unverifiable

We're not trying to build a god, we're trying to build a tool.

2023 — Interview with The New York Times
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the biggest challenge for AI is going to be alignment.

2023 — Interview with Lex Fridman
Controversial Unverifiable

The future of AI is not going to be about humans vs. machines, it's going to be about humans with machines.

Ongoing — Various interviews
Controversial Unverifiable

I think the most important thing is to be ethical in how we develop AI.

2023 — Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Controversial Unverifiable

We need to make sure that AI is a force for good in the world.

Ongoing — OpenAI mission statement, often reiterated in interviews
Controversial Unverifiable