OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Reflects on Ousting and AI's Future
TIME's 2023 CEO of the Year Sam Altman discusses his brief firing, the need for better governance at OpenAI, and the transformative potential of artificial general intelligence.
TIME names Sam Altman its 2023 CEO of the Year as the OpenAI leader sits down for a candid interview about his sudden November ousting and subsequent reinstatement. Altman admits that while the boardroom drama causes personal pain, it ultimately unifies the company and prepares the team to handle high-stakes uncertainty as they approach artificial general intelligence.
Altman acknowledges that OpenAI makes mistakes in its governance structure following the chaotic leadership shuffle. He emphasizes that the organization must improve how it interacts with the world and democratize access to AI, warning that the public should not trust OpenAI if it fails to make these critical changes.
Despite the internal turmoil, Altman praises the limitless potential of AGI and describes it as the most powerful technology humanity has yet invented. He highlights a coming transformation where the cost of intelligence drops and quality increases, ultimately delivering the promising sci-fi future that people have anticipated for a long time.