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Sam Altman
Sam Altman is a technology executive and entrepreneur who co-founded OpenAI and serves as its chief executive officer. Previously president of Y Combinator and a co-founder of Loopt, he is a prominent figure in artificial-intelligence leadership, policy and corporate governance.
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About Sam Altman
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United States · Technology executive, Entrepreneur
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- Technology executive
- Entrepreneur
At a glance
- Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and is its chief executive officer as of August 22, 2026.
- Before leading OpenAI, he co-founded Loopt and served as president of the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
- In May 2023, Altman testified as OpenAI CEO at a U.S. Senate hearing on oversight of artificial intelligence.
- OpenAI's board removed Altman as CEO in November 2023, but he returned later that month; a subsequent review led a board committee to express confidence in his continuing leadership.
Education and early startup career
Altman studied computer science at Stanford University but left before completing a degree. He co-founded Loopt, which joined Y Combinator's Summer 2005 batch, and the company was acquired by Green Dot in 2012.
Y Combinator and OpenAI
Altman became president of Y Combinator in 2014. He co-founded OpenAI in 2015, when it was introduced as a nonprofit artificial-intelligence research organization intended to benefit humanity, and he serves as OpenAI's chief executive officer as of August 22, 2026.
Role in artificial-intelligence policy
Altman's public role extends beyond corporate leadership to debate over artificial-intelligence oversight. On May 16, 2023, he appeared as OpenAI CEO before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law at a hearing on rules for artificial intelligence.
OpenAI governance crisis
On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's then-board announced Altman's departure as CEO and said it no longer had confidence in his leadership. He returned as CEO on November 29. In March 2024, OpenAI said a WilmerHale review had been completed, that a Special Committee had full confidence in his continuing leadership and that he would rejoin the board. The former board's stated rationale should not be treated as an independently established finding within this evidence set.
Timeline
- Co-founded Loopt, which participated in Y Combinator's Summer 2005 batch.
- Loopt was acquired by Green Dot.
- Began serving as president of Y Combinator.
- Co-founded OpenAI, introduced as a nonprofit research organization focused on artificial intelligence intended to benefit humanity.
- Testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee hearing on artificial-intelligence oversight.
- OpenAI's then-board announced that Altman would depart as CEO and leave the board, stating that it no longer had confidence in his leadership.
- Returned as OpenAI CEO following the November leadership crisis.
- OpenAI announced completion of a WilmerHale review, said its Special Committee had full confidence in Altman's continuing leadership and said he would rejoin the board.
Additional verified details
Current context
- Sam Altman is chief executive officer of OpenAI. OpenAI material accessed in August 2026 identifies Altman as CEO; an OpenAI Forum biography published in April 2026 identifies him as OpenAI's co-founder and CEO.
Biographical facts
- Altman studied computer science at Stanford University and left before completing a degree.
- Altman co-founded Loopt, which participated in Y Combinator's Summer 2005 batch.
- Loopt was acquired by Green Dot in 2012.
- Altman testified as OpenAI CEO before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee at its May 16, 2023 hearing on oversight of artificial intelligence.
Connections
Affiliations
Affiliations associated with Sam Altman.
- OpenAI Co-founder and chief executive officer 2015–present
- Y Combinator President 2014–2019
- Loopt Co-founder 2005
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