Sam Altman, OpenAI: ‘Lucky and Humbling’ to Work Towards Superintelligence
Published on 1/8/2025 | 5 min read
Published on 1/8/2025 | 5 min read
Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, recently shared candid insights into the company’s journey as it aims to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence. As ChatGPT marks its second anniversary, Altman reflects on OpenAI’s accomplishments, the challenges faced, and the vision that continues to drive the organization.
Founded in 2015, OpenAI set out with a bold and ambitious mission: to develop AGI and ensure it benefits all of humanity. Altman and the founding team believed that AGI could become “the most impactful technology in human history.” However, their vision was initially met with skepticism.
At the time, very few people cared, and if they did, it was mostly because they thought we had no chance of success, Altman recalls.
Fast forward to November 30, 2022, the launch of ChatGPT marked a turning point for OpenAI and the broader AI industry. The release was the culmination of years of research and experimentation. Originally conceptualized as ‘Chat With GPT-3.5,’ the tool underwent rigorous testing before evolving into the user-friendly ChatGPT. Its launch catalyzed unprecedented growth and global interest in AI.
The launch of ChatGPT kicked off a growth curve like nothing we have ever seen—in our company, our industry, and the world broadly, Altman says.
Scaling OpenAI into a global powerhouse within just two years posed significant challenges. Altman admits the process was often chaotic.
In the last two years, we had to build an entire company, almost from scratch, around this new technology. There is no way to train people for this except by doing it, he explains.
Operating in uncharted waters, OpenAI’s team navigated ambiguity, made decisions on the fly, and dealt with inevitable missteps.
Building up a company at such high velocity with so little training is a messy process, Altman acknowledges. “It’s often two steps forward, one step back (and sometimes, one step forward and two steps back).
Despite these challenges, the resilience and adaptability of the team have been crucial to OpenAI’s success. Today, the company boasts over 300 million weekly active users, a remarkable leap from the 100 million reported just a year ago.
The journey has not been without turmoil. One of the most challenging periods occurred in November 2023, when Altman was unexpectedly ousted as CEO, briefly joined Microsoft, and was then reinstated after significant backlash and staff protests.
Reflecting on the incident, Altman admits, “The whole event was, in my opinion, a big failure of governance by well-meaning people, myself included. Looking back, I certainly wish I had done things differently.”
The episode underscored the complexity of managing rapid growth and the importance of robust governance structures. It also prompted OpenAI to reevaluate its organizational framework to better align with its mission of ensuring that AGI benefits all of humanity.
“My biggest takeaway is how much I have to be thankful for and how many people I owe gratitude towards,” Altman says, expressing appreciation for the support received from employees, partners, and customers.
Looking ahead, OpenAI is setting its sights beyond AGI towards the development of superintelligence—AI systems that surpass human cognitive capabilities. Altman believes this next stage will be transformative for society.
“We are now confident we know how to build AGI as we have traditionally understood it,” he shares. By the end of this year, OpenAI predicts AI agents will “significantly join the workforce,” driving smarter automation and revolutionizing industries.
However, the journey to superintelligence comes with profound risks. Altman emphasizes the importance of prioritizing safety and alignment research to mitigate potential dangers.
“We believe in the importance of being world leaders on safety and alignment research. OpenAI cannot be a normal company,” he notes.
OpenAI’s strategy involves gradually introducing breakthroughs, enabling society to adapt alongside AI’s rapid evolution. “Iteratively putting great tools in the hands of people leads to great, broadly-distributed outcomes,” Altman explains.
Reflecting on OpenAI’s trajectory, Altman acknowledges the extraordinary breakthroughs and challenges that have defined the organization’s path.
“Nine years ago, we really had no idea what we were eventually going to become; even now, we only sort of know,” he admits.
Despite the uncertainties, Altman’s commitment to OpenAI’s vision remains steadfast. “Our vision won’t change; our tactics will continue to evolve,” he asserts, crediting the team’s willingness to rethink processes and embrace challenges for their remarkable progress.
As AI continues to reshape industries and daily life, Altman’s central message is clear: OpenAI’s mission is to unlock the benefits of AI for all humanity, a journey that is as humbling as it is transformative.
“How lucky and humbling it is to be able to play a role in this work,” Altman concludes.